The Darker Side Of The Moon
Book 4 of The Black Moon series
Chapter 29: Strenuous Week

Gary's POV – Saturday 29 August 2015

The last few days have been painful, though not as much as the next ones will be and nothing comparable to the last year and a half. Those three days in hospital were long even if I relished in my love's presence. It was enough to soothe some of my sorrow and even more once Jeremy conceded to follow me to Chicago.

During these three days, we cautiously avoided to speak about his captivity in detail as we had agreed with his family and Tony. I promised Philip and Megan that I would keep them informed of everything once back home – especially as Jeremy might not tell them the whole truth over the phone – and it was enough to reassure them; at least it allowed them to discuss other topics with their son.

There was a lot to say after seventeen months of absence! Philip told him about his career improvements and promotions. Megan told him about all her pastimes and friends, and I know that these are what helped her to keep going all these months. Jeremy's sister gave birth to a little girl too four months ago, so they showed him pictures. Even if Jeremy has never been on very good terms with her, he was still happy to know he had a little niece. All in all, it kept him busy.

Whenever Tony visited and needed to speak with me, we would just go out to talk. Sadly, nothing has moved on much as far as the investigation is concerned. They found the cabin where Jeremy was confined just before he escaped, though. They were able to get fingerprints which confirmed the identity of Andrei and his henchman Vadim Fedin, as well as some belonging to one of the guys who were helping at the mansion, a certain Will Bentley.

They also found quite a lot of blood in a corner of the room, with shattered pieces of a bottle. There was a chain with a ripped leather collar and tattered ropes. From there, it was easy to guess how Jeremy had escaped and it explained most of the cuts and scratches on his ankles, wrists and neck.

We still don't know the entire circumstances of his escape, but I can only imagine how stressful and painful it must have been for him. Using broken glass to cut ropes and leather... Fuck! It must have taken him ages but also a huge determination. I am so proud of him for doing this and taking such risks. Noah recounted how he was disciplined after he tried to escape at the beginning of his own captivity. Jeremy apparently told him he had tried too. They were even punished for plotting together the day before Noah was rescued. It must have required such courage from Jeremy to try again, knowing what he could endure if he got caught!

As expected, the cabin was empty when the police found it. Jeremy had told us that Andrei had left him with that Will guy – the one that Little Noah had nicknamed Crewcut – but upon discovering that his captive had run away, he obviously fled. I don't know whether he tried to return to Andrei or if he went AWOL knowing he had let his boss's toy escape, but I hope the future will tell us. In the meantime, there have been no traces of either Andrei or his henchmen anywhere, which is extremely frustrating.

On my side, I spent these three days enjoying quiet moments with my love in the mornings. We talked a bit, but not that much. I didn't want to expel any information from him until the real questioning occurs on Monday. Nor did I want to force information on him about all the people he knows in Chicago. He just asked a few questions about Liam, but that was it. He asked more about me and what I did in his absence.

There wasn't much to say, but I was entirely honest with him and told him that I drowned into work and that I dedicated the rest of my time either working out to let the steam off and searching for him. I could easily read through him, though, and I knew what he really wanted to ask... He looked surprised that I hadn't started a new life or moved on from him, but in a way, I'm glad it was more evidence of my irrevocable love for him. And somehow, I hope it comforted him.

Jeremy's parents always visited from 1pm on, and that's when I usually went out for a walk. The purpose was not only to let the family spend a bit of time on their own, but also to speak with my assistant and the various managers, and in the evenings, I would catch up on emails after Jeremy had fallen asleep.

Now, we are back home in Naperville and I've already had two opportunities to see how things are not going to be so easy in the future. First, there was a panic attack when we reached the upper floor. Jeremy froze when his wandered around the corridor and landed on the playroom door. I should have foreseen it might trigger uneasy memories, but thankfully, I quickly got a hang of the situation, dragged him into the nearest guestroom and he eventually calmed down.

I'm afraid I might not have grasped the full extent of his psychological state of mind, and I fear it's worse than I think. There were hints while we were in Cook. Each time I tried to approach Jeremy and touch him, I could feel how his body stiffened, so I took it as evidence he wouldn't be ready to deal with my physical presence. I'm no therapist, but I've heard about rape victims being unable to bear with hugs or even touches, and it scares me because I'm craving to wrap him within my arms and cuddle him.

Perhaps it was a mistake, but this is what led me to settle him in his own bedroom for now, thinking he might need his own space until he would accept for us to share the same bed. I guess I should have asked him directly because he apparently took my offer as a rejection which only aggravated his self-disgust. Finding him scrubbing his body with a brush, almost in a trance, was a freaking shock. His skin had turned bright red and some areas were even scorched!

At that moment, I couldn't care less that he was nude and could be embarrassed. I just wanted him to stop hurting himself and I just did that. The good point is that it yielded a short conversation. I hated the sadness and disappointment in Jeremy's voice when he confessed he felt rejected because of my offer. I could have slapped myself! In return, I told him that I hadn't used my own bedroom since he disappeared, but I didn't go into further details. I believe it soothed his worries, though, just as much as learning I had kept all his belongings from his old apartment. I guess we'll discuss more over dinner, but if he accepts my presence in his bed, I'll be more than happy to sleep with him of course.

I am back downstairs now, watching over our meal which is cooking on the stove and smiling as I remember the bewildered expression on his face when I told him all his stuff was stored here in my house. I just couldn't throw anything away a year and a half ago when I emptied his place. Jeremy didn't own anything very valuable money-wise, but I knew some of his belongings had a sentimental value and I guessed it should be his responsibility to decide on what he should keep or not. Seeing how big this house is, it was no problem to stock everything, and I would never admit how many times I went to the garage to open a box and just stare at this or that item, feeling his presence next to me. I would never say how many hours I spent weeping while hugging his clothes and relishing in their sweet scent.

A knock on the door pulls me from my memories.

I am not expecting any visitors tonight, so I am a bit surprised but I still go to open. I know the guard – a member of Tony's staff whose services he kindly offered before I can recruit someone myself – wouldn't have let anyone approach the door if it wasn't someone allowed on the list of visitors.

This reminds me that I will soon have to hire security. This was the subject of a rather heated conversation with Tony a couple of days ago because he absolutely wants his guys to take care of the surveillance. I can understand that he trusts them better than any other company, but I think I have already abused his and Joshua's help. However, fighting Tony's convictions is a bit like trying to escape Aaron's bear hugs...

I have barely opened the door that I find myself prisoner of a tight embrace, unable to move until Aaron breaks away.

"Sorry for coming unannounced, Gary... I don't want to intrude and I swear I won't stay long, but... I just... I just need to see him... I just need to see he's back for real..." he whispers apologetically, emotion heavy in his strangled voice.

"Of course, Aaron!" I reply as I let him in.

Aaron looks a little less tense than a week ago. I'm not sure which of his recent trip to New York or the knowledge that Jeremy was found safe helped him the most, but I'm sincerely glad to see he's getting back to his joyful and hyper self. Deep down, I'm a bit scared about Jeremy's reaction when he gets to see the Master Dom, but I just can't deny this little favor to my friend after all the support he has provided me, and in any case, I'm sure Aaron will know to make off if things don't go well.

"How did the return go?" he asks warily.

"Not too easily..." I sigh before I explain him briefly all that has happened since we arrived.

We are in the living room, speaking in low voices by the empty fireplace when a creak from the staircase alerts us of Jeremy's presence a few minutes later. Aaron has always had a soft spot for Jer – like for a few more Subs at his club although he always plays fair with all of them – so his abduction clearly wore its toll on him. Much more than he'd ever admit, but that's Aaron I'm talking about... He learned from the best how to hide his emotions, it seems, and even his best friends have a hard time reading him.

However, as Jeremy appears in the doorway, Aaron's brown eyes immediately fill with tears and as he rushes over to my angel, I can hear him break into sobs that send shivers through my entire body. I can't remember ever seeing Aaron cry. Not even after Jer disappeared. Not when Noah was rescued and we learned about Jeremy's ordeal either. He probably did, but he always kept it off public.

He must be the strongest man I have ever met, always a fighter and someone who sees the good in everything and everyone. I don't know much about his past, or what brought him into this lifestyle exactly, but I bet his childhood and adolescence were not all pink, and what he may have endured back then certainly helped to build the strong man he has become.

Hence my brief bewilderment as I see him crack down, and I must admit, I can hardly hold back my own tears. For a brief moment, I'm scared to see Jeremy cower in front of such a display of agitation, fervor and warmth as Aaron pulls him into a tight hug.

"Fuck, it's so good to see you, Buddy... I'm so sorry for what happened... You've been missed so much... I'm so happy to see you here safe," he keeps whispering.

"Thank you... Master Aaron..." Jeremy whispers hesitantly as they pull apart.

"There's no Master, Jeremy... Just Aaron..." he replies sincerely.

I am so grateful for this. I'm even surprised Jeremy called him Master, and I guess it's just an old habit from the past, but he doesn't seem too uncomfortable right now.

"Aaron, we were just about to have dinner and there's enough for three. Stay with us?" I offer, carefully observing my love, just as Aaron does.

Jeremy doesn't seem to mind and a small smile even draws on his lips.

"With pleasure!"

Dinner occurs in a fairly normal atmosphere. Aaron knows better than to ask questions about Jeremy's captivity and the conversation remains light, talking about nothing and everything, but we never mention the club or anything that might trigger any uneasiness. My poor boy looks awfully tired, yawning all the time, so as soon as he has finished his yogurt, I suggest him to go rest in bed, which he gladly accepts. Aaron embraces him again, wishing him a good night, and I do the same, dropping a brief peck on his lips and promising to go and see him in a short while.

"How did you find him?" I ask Aaron once Jeremy has left and as he helps me to clear the table.

"Honestly, I don't know. He looked rather calm but that's clearly only a façade," Aaron replies.

"Yeah... You can see how tense he is, and I bet thoughts are bubbling in his head..."

"Give him time, Gary. You know things won't be easy."

"Yeah, I know that. And I'll give him all the time he needs anyway. I just don't know how to handle him exactly... I'm not sure about how I should deal with all that..." I sigh, leaning against the counter.

"Don't doubt yourself. I'm certain you'll be perfect at healing him, I have faith in you, Gary," Aaron replies, laying comforting hands on my shoulders. "Have you received specific recommendations from the doctors at hospital? Did they advise you?"

"Not much... It was a very small hospital and although they were perfectly qualified to deal with urgent care, there wasn't any psychological help. The doctor only advised to make him see a therapist, but that's an obviousness..."

"I know a very good therapist, if you want. He is familiar with BDSM and follows a few Doms and Subs from the club. What Jeremy experienced has nothing to do with the lifestyle of course, but Dr. Graaf might be fit for some of the topics Jeremy would broach."

"Did he see Noah?"

"No, Noah refused to see him, but that's not what he needed anyway. Noah needed reassurance to ease his guilt, but he mostly needed his Daddy..." Aaron explains, wrinkling his nose and smiling. "He wasn't affected the same way Jeremy is, I think. Noah craves for the lifestyle, and in a way, I'm sure it'll make him even stronger than he was before. Jeremy is certainly a different story. I can't be sure, but I really think a therapy would help him..."

"You're probably right. Please send me his contact details when you have a minute, that would be great. I don't know any therapist here anyway, so I'll give it a try," I reply gratefully.

"And if I may, I think you could do with a few sessions too..." Aaron trails off warily, making me frown. "Gary, I'm not saying you need it. I know how strong you are, and I have no doubt you'll manage. But he might be able to give you a few pointers on how to deal with certain issues..."

"Yes, perhaps... I must admit I'm not over-confident regarding potential panic attacks or whatever."

"You'll do great, I'm sure of that. And if you need to talk or to let some steam off, you know I'm here, right? Just call me anytime, Gary."

"Yeah, I know that. Thank you, Aaron," I say.

"I'll go now so that you can take care of your angel," he replies, heading for the door and I accompany him outside to his car.

"How was New York, by the way?" I ask with a smug smile.

"Refreshing! Just the last little push I needed to start anew!" he replies in a smug tone.

"I can imagine..." I smirk back at him.

"Hey... My friend Aiden and I had a lot of fun playing with his Baby for a few days," he whispers, scratching the back of his head. "And I believe this Baby enjoyed himself with two Master Doms..."

"You're such a horn dog... Did you fuck the other Master Dom too?" I ask, wiggling my eyebrows in a poor imitation of my friend, which causes him to burst out laughing – or perhaps is it my question.

"I'm not answering that one!"

"So, you did!" I exclaim accusingly. "You just can't help yourself!"

"I'm not saying!" he grumbles.

"Or that means you didn't and you're frustrated..." I comment thoughtfully, but I won't insist any further. "So you're ready to reopen the Black Diamond?"

"Definitely! Between this little trip, all the talking with the guys, Noah getting better and now Jeremy being back, I feel all perked up!" he cheers.

"That's good news! I'm glad for you, Aaron."

"Thank you, Gary. And thanks for dinner, it was great seeing Jeremy again. Really!" he adds as we hug briefly. "Take care of your little man and feel free to call if I can be of any help."

"Thanks! Count on me. And I'll call you on Monday to let you know how things went with the police."

"Please do that. And get some sleep, you look awfully tired!"

After quick goodbyes, Aaron leaves and I hurry back inside the house. It's all quiet, of course. I lock the doors, switch off the lights and make my way upstairs. It's the first guestroom to the left I had settled in after I had decided not to use my bedroom anymore, but tonight, I walk into the one on the right. Jeremy is already sleeping, with the bedside lamp on, over the comforter and still wearing his sweatpants and tee-shirt. He looks rather peaceful which is such relief to me.

I don't know what I should do now since we didn't have the opportunity to discuss the bedroom topic again. Should I leave him alone and go back to my room, with the risk of him feeling hurt and rejected again? Or should I stay with him? Won't he mind my presence in his bed? Fuck, I should have pushed the conversation earlier!

Pondering on how I should handle the situation tonight, I quickly go to my room for my evening routine, change into pajama pants and a tee-shirt, then return to Jeremy. With a sigh, I eventually decide to settle in the comfortable armchair by the window and watch my love sleep until my eyes can't stay open anymore.

I am startled awake by loud screams and I'm glad I stayed in Jeremy's room. I would have been scared shitless if I had been in another one, thinking someone is aggressing him. At least here, I can see that he is only having a nightmare and I can react very quickly by hurrying to his side. My poor love is thrashing in bed and I have a hard time catching him in my hold.

"Jer... wake up, Baby! It's a nightmare! You're safe here!!" I say, trying to pull him out of his bad dream.

It takes a long minute before he opens his eyes, breathing heavily and sweating. Tears are streaking his cheeks and he can't seem to form a coherent sentence. When he sees me, he exhales a long sigh of relief and leans his head against my chest. I take it as a good sign and lie down beside him, making him snuggle against me. He doesn't try to resist and eventually calms down.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I whisper.

I don't get an answer and realize that he has fallen back asleep, so I close my eyes and let myself doze off as well, keeping him tight against me. Nightmares were to be expected, even if he didn't have any while in hospital. I assume it's a direct consequence of our return here and the memories it triggered. There might be more in the coming days, especially after he has spoken with the police and when he starts seeing the therapist.

It's barely 8am when I wake up the following morning, lying on my back with Jeremy's head resting on my chest. I can tell he is awake from the way he breathes, and the fingers of his left hand are twisting the fabric of my tee-shirt. I'm a bit tired but I still feel more rested than I have been in the past few months.

"How are you, this morning?" I ask in a low voice.

"Okay... Sorry about last night... I didn't mean to wake you up..." he apologizes.

"You don't have to be sorry, Jeremy. I don't mind..."

"Were you here or... in another bedroom?" he asks shyly.

"I was in the armchair by the window," I admit.

Time to clarify things, I believe.

"Jer," I begin, rolling us to lie on our sides, face to face, and he naturally puts a bit of distance between us. "I wasn't sure after the short conversation we had yesterday, so I found a compromise by staying in your room, though not in your bed. I need you to tell me which you are the most comfortable with..."

"I'm fine with you in my bed, of course..." he replies meekly. "Just know that... that... that I'm not ready for more than that..." he then adds in a remorseful voice as tears fill his eyes.

"I know that, Jeremy, and as I told you already, I'm not expecting anything more," I reassure him, brushing the back of my fingers on his cheek. "We'll take all the time you need. Let me just help you to heal. As the doctor advised in Cook, you're going to see a therapist. Aaron is going to send me the contact details of a good one in Chicago and..."

"Ughhhh... I don't want to see a therapist..." he grumbles, pulling further away and sitting on the bed.

"Please, give it a try. Remember what the doctor said. It might help you..."

"But I don't want to speak to a stranger!"

"I can understand that, but you don't need to tell him more than what you want..." I reason, also sitting up and shifting to face him.

"I don't want to repeat everything to anyone again..." he sighs.

Obviously, I can't force him to go, but I really wish he'd try. People can be judgmental about shrinks – and I include myself in this category – but at this stage, I'm ready to try just anything for Jeremy. What if it was the solution to make him feel better? His trauma is deep, and I need someone to help me. I don't care if Jer doesn't open up in the beginning, but who knows? He might end up feeling comfortable around the therapist and manage to take some of his burden off his chest? I need to find the right words to convince him.

"Okay... Here's what I propose... I'll go to the first appointment and explain the situation. I'm not sure it's very ethical, but it would avoid you having to repeat everything. At least, the doctor would have some background."

"What's the point for me to go then?"

"I don't know, Baby," I sigh. "At least, you'd know he already has some details, and then, it'll be his job to help you with what he can. These people know how to deal with v..."

Thankfully, I interrupt myself just in time before I pronounce the word victim. Even if that's what Jeremy is – a victim of abuse – I'm not sure I should categorize him as such. Or maybe I should, I don't know since I'm no expert, but in any case, I'd rather not say the word aloud.

"With people who endured similar experiences. He won't force you to talk about it, but he might provide you with leads on how to heal. How does that sound?"

"I just don't want to have to relive all this, Gary... Speaking with the police will be difficult enough..." he breathes out as a tear rolls off his eye.

"I know, Baby..." I concede, reaching for his hand. "Unfortunately, you will have to. And I'll be here to support you. I still want you to try and see this therapist. And if you don't feel comfortable around him, we can try another one. Okay?" I insist.

"Okay... I'll try..." he sighs.

"Good. Now let's go get some breakfast!" I say just as his stomach starts rumbling.

The rest of the day goes uneventfully. I spend the better of it in my study catching up on work while Jeremy lazes on the couch in the living room. I leave my door open so that I can discreetly peek at him once in a while – or often.

Several times, I openly go to check on him, asking if he needs anything. I remind him he shouldn't hesitate to help himself in the fridge if he's hungry. I switch on the TV and give him the remote control, but he remains on the same channel, not really watching. I offer him to read a book or listen to music too, but he wants none of that. I don't really like this state of numbness he puts himself in, but this is only the first day here, so I guess I should allow him some time to readapt to his freedom.

The following week is as difficult as I expected.

The nights are punctuated with screams when nightmares hit Jeremy, the only difference being that I am already in the bed and ready to soothe him. His terrible and deafening screams hurt me so badly, a thousand times more than they annoy me. I don't really mind being awoken at night because like I said, I am ready to face anything to help him, but his pain touches me to the core. Seeing him shivering and panting like he does, unable to form coherent sentences, is truly agonizing for me. I wish I could find a way to avoid these nightmares.

And yet, this is nothing compared to Monday and the six-hour questioning my poor angel goes through.

We all settle in the living room. While the two police officers sit on a settee, our lawyer and the private detective opt for another, and Jeremy nervously sits on the third one between Tony and me. This is an awfully proving moment for everyone, but mostly for Jeremy as he has decided to do it all in one session instead of spreading the whole thing over several days. In the end, I think it was better to get it over with and move on to something else.

Throughout the entire interview, I never leave his side, supporting him the best I can with soothing gestures, my thumb drawing circles on his healing skin. Once per hour, I impose a short break to take him outside for a little walk and to breathe some fresh air, never failing to praise and encourage him.

All our interlocutors are extremely nice and patient, and I am pleasantly surprised by the two officers' gentleness and the way they manage to extort so many details regarding what happened during these seventeen months. I guess the report that was issued after Noah's rescue helped a lot and they are able to address the right questions in order to get appropriate and accurate answers. Most of the time, they just pull out a piece of information that Jeremy confirms, providing a few more details, and when he doesn't, they subtly lead him to give more information through other questions.

What can I say...? After almost six hours of hearing Jeremy's dull voice recounting every single thing he endured for seventeen fucking months, I am left a total mess of emotions. I'm in a turmoil of disgust – because what these motherfuckers did to him is worse than abject. Wrath – I doubt I would have enough self-control to not inflict the same tortures to these bastards only tenfold. Pain – because my heart has never ached so badly before. Frustration – because I wish I had saved him myself. Sorrow – because I'm left with only pieces to mend. Powerlessness and dread – because I don't know if I'll be able to ever put my angel back on his feet.

Of course, I knew what to expect. More or less. Noah had provided a lot of information already, but Jeremy added many more details, and many more occurrences of each torture. I hate that they used me as leverage to achieve their goals, to subdue him. Waves of nausea wash over me whenever he mentions all the things they forced him to do. I can barely hold my tears when he mentions the young Timmy and explains how he gathered strength through his constant support and the complicity that arose between them.

Tears that freely run from eyes as Jeremy relates the circumstances of the boy's death. In this moment, I promise myself that I will pay every lawyer I will have to, to make sure that this fucker of Fabio Lipia stays in jail for the rest of his life, and possibly in the worst establishment ever. This is also when I decide that the poor boy will have the decent funeral he deserved.

I hurt deep within from all the information Jeremy reveals, but the worst... the worst part is when he tried to end his life.

This is unbearable to me because it means I was really close to losing him forever.

And I couldn't have lived with that.

As much as all the torture he endured to horrible to hear, and even though I still don't know how I'm going to help him heal, the fact is that he is still here. Alive. It's going to be a long and painful process, but I know we'll reach the end of that road, however long and bumpy it is, because we will be together. If Jeremy's life had been taken away, I wouldn't have had another reason to live myself. It would have killed me. Knowing that he once almost committed suicide, that the hell he lived in brought him to such extreme attempt, this is just unbearable, and I'm thankful for Tony to send me to the kitchen to bring more coffee at that moment, just to gather my thoughts back together.

How dare I complain about all these throbbing emotions when he was the one who endured all this shit? This is so pathetic... I have no right to lament about my feelings. A few hours of mental are nothing compared to what my love suffered all this time! He is so brave...

He does explain that he was never treated badly aside of the few times he was punished. He was fed decently, never beaten when unnecessary, always provided with aftercare. He also relied a lot on Timmy's support and presence. However, none of this assuages my urges to catch all these fuckers and smash them until they release their last breath. I want to see them suffer.

Needless to say, the following night is the worst of all, with Jeremy waking up several times, screaming and crying.

Throughout the rest of the week, I refuse to go to the office and I just stay home with him. The only two hours I leave his side is on Tuesday morning when I go downtown to meet the therapist Aaron advised. Dr. Graaf sounds very nice, and although this is not the usual process, he lets me tell him about Jeremy's situation. At least he knew what to expect when he eventually receives Jeremy in his practice on Wednesday and Friday.

Of course, each of their interviews will remain confidential. Dr. Graff just promises me to call me by the end of the week to give me a few leads on how I should behave around Jeremy, because I'm at a total loss in this aspect. In the meantime, he advises me to start working on formalities to get Jeremy a new ID and a passport, saying that getting his identity back will be an important step in the healing process. Jeremy is so numb that he doesn't even ask questions when I take him to a shop that afternoon to have a photographer take pictures of him.

On Wednesday, Jeremy tries to talk me out of driving him to the therapist, but I still do and stay in the waiting room for an hour while he is with Dr. Graff. The same happens on Friday morning and Jeremy says it's only a waste of time and money when we get back home because he doesn't want to speak, but I ignore his remark and let him rest on the couch the entire afternoon.

What worries me is that he doesn't do anything all day long. Not that I mind because I can understand this state of numbness, but I hate to see him brood over his thoughts. I wish he could keep himself busy one way or the other, either watching TV or reading for instance, but he just lays on the sofa and daydreams. The Dominant buried deep within me would like to shake him and force him to do something, but I can't resolve myself to do that without the therapist's advice. Which eventually comes on Friday evening, just after Jeremy went to bed.

"Mr. Campbell, this is Dr. Graaf, I'm calling you regarding Mr. Brown," he says when I answer the call.

"Oh, good evening, Dr. Graaf! I'm glad you're calling back! How did it go?"

"Well, like I said, the contents of my interviews with Mr. Brown must remain confidential, but what I can tell you is that he hasn't been very cooperative. It might take a few sessions before he opens up and I need time to gain his trust. I'm going to try a new approach on Monday."

"I can understand that, no problem."

"However, I can already give you a few pointers with regards to what you explained to me on Tuesday. Returning to the BDSM lifestyle is obviously out of the question for now, but I think you could use some of it to help him. Mr. Brown is withdrawing in himself and this is not good. He needs someone strong to push him and guide him."

"Are you asking me to pull out my Dominant self, Doctor?"

"Not really, but I think you could try and push him a bit. It'll be difficult for you to find a happy medium so as not to scare him more, but he definitely needs someone to make him move forward. Staying in a state of numbness and inactivity won't serve him right. He needs to do something with his life and it should start with small and easy activities."

"I've tried to do that... I suggested him some..."

"Don't suggest, Mr. Campbell. Don't order either, but be a little firmer. You'll be walking on eggshells because you can't be too hard, and you clearly can't resort to the disciplining aspects of your former lifestyle. But give him some authority. He will need that and your support to move on."

"I will try this, Doctor. Thank you for your help."

Well, if that's what Jeremy needs to get out of his apathy, I will work on that. I will give it some thought and try to find that happy medium.

Published on 27 February 2018

A strenuous week indeed for our guys, but it also means that things are going to move on.

Since we're entering the healing process, and before I incur some readers' wrath because they're therapists or students in psychology, I'll remind you that this is a work of fiction and that I'm no expert in psychotherapies. Deciding not to kill Jeremy in Twisted Moon meant not only writing his story but also finding a relatively realistic way to heal him. Choosing a psychotherapy as part of his healing was a challenge and a risk at the same time, but I wasn't going to make months of research either. So, I mostly went with my feelings and defined a process that fitted the story. Not sure everyone will like it, but I did. You'll discover more of that with another therapist than Doctor Graff in a few chapters, but I thought I should put a reminder here.

Anyway, we'll be back in Jeremy's head next Saturday and I promise something more positive :)