Chapter VII - The Seed is Planted

Flashback to a conversation with Sam's sister about changing your name and becoming a different person.

I don't know if what my sister has is a split personality.  Can you will yourself into mental illness?  Can you actually just decide to vacate your life, your self, and become another person entirely?

 

All I know is that long before Kayleigh died, about five years or so ago, Cass and I were hanging out at Michael's Cafe and some new girlfriend of some guy we knew was talking our ears off while we were trying to shoot some pool.

 

"So!"  The girl flicked her cigarette ash theatrically and continued her already long story.

 

"I'm like, what the hell?  You leave me for three weeks at a time, probably screw around on me, and I can't have any fun?  And let me tell you something, girls, his brother was a way better f**k!"  The girl cackled and tossed back a shot.

 

Cassie shot smoke out her nose as she leaned in to sink the eight ball.  I could tell she was getting annoyed with Chatty Cathy. 

 

"So you had no problem f*****g the guy's brother?" Cassie asked.

 

"Well, technically, I didn't do it."  The girl smirked and raised her eyebrows.

 

I was annoyed now, too, because if this girl kept irritating my sister, she would use Kayleigh as an excuse to leave and I'd be stuck here drinking with some chic I hardly knew.  Since Cassie had just whipped me in pool again, I asked my question from under the table as I was collecting balls for the next set up.

 

"What the f**k is that supposed to mean?"  I asked. 

 

"I mean, I wasn't myself.  I was Karen." 

 

The girl was making no sense.  Cassie asked her what the hell she was talking about.

 

The girl lit another cig and enlightened us.

 

"See, when things get to be too much, and I don't want to deal with it, I just become Karen.  Karen does whatever she wants, and I don't have to feel bad about it."  Karen/Apparent Mental Patient shrugged at our perplexed faces.  "It's not a big deal.  I'm sick of being me, I just become not me."

 

"Ahhh."  I looked at Cassie for help, but she seemed intrigued.  I ended up drinking myself sick listening to those two talk that night, and I wish I had paid more attention.  I remember at one point Cass had had almost as much to drink as me, and she had her arm around Karen/Whoever.

 

"You, my friend, are a genius."  Cassie said to her.  Ugh.  It makes me sick all over again to think about it now.