Page 102 of Even in the Dark

Dr. Morley:Pretty violent game, isn’t it?

Dylan:You monitoring my video game choices now, too?

Dr. Morley:Just wondering if the blood and gore… Dead bodies and the like. How you are with that.

Dylan:[no response]

Dr. Morley:Were you totally fine with it? Neutral? Kind of bothered by it?… Really bothered you?

Dylan:Bothered me, yeah.

Dr. Morley:A little? A lot?

Dylan:… A decent amount.

Dr. Morley:Okay. Describe how it bothered you.

Dylan:Made me… sorta nauseous. My brain kinda flickers andshit.

Dr. Morley:What do you mean by ‘flickers’?

Dylan:Just… like these weird flickers. Like I blank out for a few seconds or whatever. Or see these flashes. Like flashes of memories. From… you know…

Dr. Morley:Does this happen a lot? The flickers and flashbacks? And the nausea?

Dylan:No. First time in a while.

Dr. Morley:Define ‘a while’.

Dylan:In like a month or so. Just when I see stuff like—that’s… graphic, I guess.

Dr. Morley:Okay… Can you let me know next time it happens?

Dylan:It’s not a big deal.

Dr. Morley:Doesn’t sound like the kind of thing that isn’t a big deal. Sounds really unpleasant, if you ask me.

Dylan:I guess.

Dr. Morley:Here’s a question for you. This guy Silas—when you’re hanging out, does he ask you about stuff from your past? Eli, or the murders… that kind of stuff?

Dylan:No.

Dr. Morley:Okay. So here’s an idea. What if next time you’re hanging out playing video games, you just say something like, “Look man, I feel a little weird seeing lots of blood and stuff. Are you cool if we play something else?” Just… boom—lay it out. Short and simple, to the point. So he knows. And since he doesn’t sound like the kind of guy to pry, he’ll probably get it. And you can move on. You don’t have to worry about dealing with the flickers and flashbacks and nausea and whatnot every time you hang out.

Dylan:Sounds like making a production out of nothing.

Dr. Morley:It’s two sentences.

Dylan:Yeah, maybe.

Dr. Morley:I think it’s important, Dylan. And if you saysomething now, it’ll be easier. If you wait, it will feel even more awkward saying something—if you’ve been playing these games for weeks. Or months.

Dylan:[no response]

Dr. Morley:Tell me what you’re thinking right now.

Dylan:[no response]

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