Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Theslendertwenty-seven-year-oldpsych-tech,whosportedafullbeardandworetwoearrings—adelicategoldloopandajadestone—inhisleftearlobe,hadheardofMilliganshostilitytowardmalesbecauseofthesexualabusehehadsufferedasachild.Hewascuriousaboutmultiplepersonality,thoughhewasskepticalaboutthewholeidea.

           Rosalie,ablond,blue-eyedoccupationaltherapistinherlatetwenties,hadneverdealtwithamultiplepersonalitybefore.ButafterthebriefingbyDr.Harding,shebecameawarethatthestaffhadquicklydividedintotwocamps:thosewhobelievedMilliganwasamultipleandthosewhobelievedhewasaconman—fakingthisexoticillnesstogainattentionandtoavoidgoingtoprisonforrape.Rosaliewasstrugglinghardtokeepanopenmind.

           WhenMilliganseatedhimselfattheendofthetable;apartfromtheothers,RosalieDraketoldhimthatthemini-grouppatientshaddecidedthedaybeforetomakecollagesthatwouldsaysomethingaboutthemselvestosomeonetheyloved."Idon’thaveanyoneIlovetomakeonefor,"hesaid."Thendoitforus,"Rosaliesaid."Everyoneisdoingit."Sheheldupasheetofconstructionpapershewasworkingon."NickandIaredoingthemtoo."

           RosaliewatchedfromadistanceasMilligantookasheetofeight-by-elevenconstructionpaperandstartedcuttingphotographsfrommagazines.ShehadheardofMilligansartisticability,andnow,lookingattheshy,quietpatient,shewascurioustoseewhathewoulddo.