The ceremony was silent, only the whispers of the guests could be heard. The young widow stood apart, lost in her thoughts. Suddenly, a guest approached with a mischievous and sarcastic air.

Angelo: So, they say your memory has taken a hike?

Rebecca: Yes, that's true.

Angelo: Maybe that's for the best. Forget the damage you might have caused in the past.

Rebecca stared at him defiantly.

Rebecca: I suppose we weren't very close, despite all those photos where I've seen you.

Angelo: Your husband was a big fan of my music. We got along well. But you, you were...

Rebecca: Yes?

Angelo: Sometimes, you were... a real psychopath. You and Aaron were in an open relationship.

Rebecca: Open? You mean he had mistresses and so did I?

Angelo: Yes, and his lover met a tragic end.

Rebecca frowned, intrigued by what was being revealed to her.

Rebecca: What happened with that... man?

Angelo: He was involved in strange rituals. A world you seemed to be part of, without fully realizing it.

Shocked, Rebecca tried to understand.

Rebecca: Was I complicit in all of that?

Angelo: Let’s say you had a role in a reality that few could imagine.

Rebecca, perplexed, felt the weight of these revelations.

Rebecca: And those "damages" you mention? What did I do?

Angelo: You were running a trafficking operation, a cloning business. A formidable businesswoman.

Rebecca burst out laughing, a mix of astonishment and incredulity.

Rebecca: Wow, I must have been quite a woman then! But all of this seems so surreal...

She scanned the crowd, searching for answers in the guests' gazes, still lost in the blur of her past.

Angelo: I think you’re schizophrenic, like your husband. One of his former lovers also had that illness, which led him to psychiatry, just like you.

Rebecca: I’m institutionalized for dissociative amnesia, not schizophrenia.

Angelo: I talked to your psychiatrist when he contacted your relatives. You believed in little green men among us, disguised as humans!

Rebecca, exasperated, stared at him intensely.

Rebecca: Woah, I've had enough of that. Keep your distance, please, you're giving me a headache.

She turned on her heels and headed towards Bill and Tom, her mind in turmoil. As she walked away, a thought crossed her: maybe she was better off in psychiatry, surrounded by people who didn’t know her, but who were unaware of her past, rather than being with those who remembered her while she had no memory left.

Back in America, at the psychiatric center...

Dr. Kiraoum's Office

Rebecca expresses her hesitation and confusion after her husband’s funeral, feeling foreign among her relatives and her in-laws who were waiting for her to remember them. She fears discovering truths about her husband that would challenge her identity and the reality of their life together. Mayer, her interlocutor, encourages her by reminding her that the healing process is gradual and that she can protect herself while being surrounded by those who love her. Rebecca feels lost but begins to see a glimmer of hope as she decides to open up to her emotions and move at her own pace. Together, they move to a calming discussion, marking progress in her journey.

Rebecca (after a moment of silence): You know, someone told me… right in the eyes… that he thought I was schizophrenic. Like my husband.

Mayer (looking up, intrigued): Schizophrenic? What triggered that comment?

Rebecca (sighing): He seemed really serious. He lived with us to be closer to his school, as a student in business. He had a particular bond with my husband. He said that to me, as if I were a threat.

Mayer (taking a compassionate tone): That must have been very painful to hear.

Rebecca (frowning): Do you think I could be too?

Mayer (hesitating for a moment): I’ve had the opportunity to talk to some of your relatives, and I think I know who you’re talking about. They shared their concerns, but I think it’s important not to jump to conclusions.

Rebecca: But if they think that… does it mean that…

Mayer (with a reassuring approach): It’s not that simple. Diagnoses must be based on clear criteria, and what you feel shouldn’t be minimized. Mental health is complex.

Rebecca (hesitant): So, you don’t think it’s possible?

Mayer (taking a moment to reflect): I think it’s important to keep exploring what you feel and what you’re going through. Labels don’t define who you are.

Rebecca (sighing with relief): Thank you. I was afraid that… it was something inevitable.

Mayer (smiling gently): That’s not the case. We’ll move forward together, one step at a time.

Rebecca (taking a deep breath): Doctor, may I ask you a few questions? Everything revolves around me, but I don’t know anything about you.

Mayer (smiling): I’m flattered by your curiosity, but it’s essential that our dialogue remains focused on you and your experiences.

Rebecca (frowning): You seem so young to be a psychiatrist. What brought you here? I mean, what’s your journey?

Mayer then shares his atypical journey with Rebecca. He graduated high school at 16 after skipping grades, then completed an undergraduate degree in biology and psychology in 2-3 years. He entered Harvard Medical School, graduating in medicine at 22. After that, he completed a four-year psychiatry residency, starting his career as a psychiatrist at 24. He mentions that this speed allowed him to gain a lot of experience in his field.

Rebecca (with a smile): Wow, and here I am not even remembering my studies related to cloning!

Mayer: Your path, though different, is just as valuable, and each step, even that of amnesia, can lead to a new understanding of oneself.

Rebecca (sighing): I feel like I’m a bit of an attraction. People are waiting for me to remember, but they don’t share anything except for the patients I interact with. It’s frustrating when it comes to loved ones.

Mayer (nodding): I understand. The process can feel unbalanced. But know that every story matters, and both sides are important.

Rebecca (hesitant): I wonder if you’ve had difficult moments too. How did you cope with all of that?

Mayer (thinking for a moment): I believe everyone has their struggles, even those who seem to have everything under control. But it’s not my place to share my challenges here. My role is to listen to you and support you in your journey.

Rebecca (sincere): It feels good to hear that. Sometimes I feel like I’m carrying the world on my shoulders, but it reassures me to know that you have your own story too.

Mayer (with a genuine smile): We all have our baggage. The important thing is to find a way to carry it, together.

She nodded slowly, seeming more relaxed, as they continued to exchange, creating a stronger bond.

Rebecca steps out of her psychiatrist's office, a slight furrow in her brow betraying her anxiety. She takes a deep breath and heads towards the common room. The atmosphere is mixed: laughter, whispers, and some loud voices. She spots Vincent, a patient often isolated, sitting in a corner with a tattered newspaper. Determined, she approaches him.

Rebecca: Hi, Vincent. Can I talk to you for a moment?

Vincent (looking at the ground): If you want… But I’m not sure it’s a good idea.

Rebecca sits beside him, adopting an open posture.

Rebecca: I’m really curious to understand what you’re feeling. You know, I’m here to learn and… I think you have a lot to share.

Vincent glances around, then slowly stands up.

Vincent: Come on, let’s go over there.

He points to a quieter corner, away from the other patients. They head to a more isolated space, where the noise is muffled.

Rebecca (sighing with relief): Thank you. It's quieter here.

Vincent (hesitant): Well, it started with voices. Whispers in my head. At first, I thought it was just... stray thoughts. Then, it intensified. I started talking to these voices. They told me terrifying things. I told my mother about it, she freaked out and took me to the psychiatrist.

Rebecca: And there, they told you that you were schizophrenic?

Vincent: Yes… It was a shock, you know? Not really what I was hoping to hear. I thought I’d just... get rid of those voices like you get rid of a cold.

He looks at Rebecca, his eyes sad but clear.

Rebecca: And now? How does it go for you daily?

Vincent (sighing): It’s a fight. Some days, I hear them whispering, sometimes they scream. It’s like a cacophony concert in my head. I feel lost, like I’m outside of myself. The treatment… it’s a lottery. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it makes everything worse. It’s exhausting.

Rebecca: You mean you never know what to expect?

Vincent: Exactly. One day, I can go out and feel almost normal, the next day, I’m just there, frozen, unable to move. People think it’s just me not wanting to talk, but it’s… more complicated than that.

Rebecca listens attentively, touched by his vulnerability.

Rebecca: Do you have moments where you feel well, at least?

Vincent (smiling sadly): Yes, there are days when I can read or draw. In those moments, I’m lucid. But they don’t last. Every day is a battle. But I fight.

Rebecca: Thank you for sharing that with me. It really helps me understand.

Vincent gives her a grateful look, even though he still seems tormented by his demons.

Vincent: Thank you for listening. Not many people do...

They sit in silence for a moment, enveloped in an atmosphere of empathy and understanding, away from the other patients.

...

Vincent (whispering): Wait, look. Someone is there, right behind you. He’s watching you.

Rebecca turns discreetly but sees nothing. She furrows her brow, perplexed and a bit anxious.

Rebecca: I don’t see anyone. Are you sure?

Vincent, still fixed on the same spot, looks worried.

Vincent: Yes, I feel it. He’s not taking his eyes off you. It’s… it’s strange. Like he knows things about you.

Rebecca, trying to stay calm, leans slightly toward him.

Rebecca: Listen, it could be a hallucination.

Vincent, looking serious, shakes his head.

Vincent: No, it can’t just be that. I really see him...

Rebecca feels uneasy, her heart racing.

Rebecca: What is he doing, exactly?

Vincent (whispering): He’s looking at you like he knows everything about you. It’s like he wants to tell you something...

She takes a deep breath, trying to reassure him while being aware of her own discomfort.

Rebecca: Okay, let’s say it’s real for you. What should we do?

Vincent glances around, worried.

Vincent: We might want to change places. I don’t like him staring at us like that.

Rebecca: Yes, good idea. Let’s go a bit further.

They get up and start walking toward another corner, trying to leave that palpable tension behind.

Aaron "Ghost"
Fka Twigs "Rebecca"
Gerard Way "Vincent"