"Get up!" The woman yelled, digging her long nails into the skin of her nephew's arm. She yanked him off the road, her eyes taking in Jake Kuwahara bent over Cedar's prone bony frame, trying to help his friend up. "What the fuck you do now, Ahe?!" Kanani's mom screamed at the wailing boy and sucked in her breath when she got a good look at his face.
Serene lunged at him again, but Aunty Sharon held Serene back by planting her large palm up against the girl's chest.
"Go home, Jake," she ordered. Jake ducked his head and scurried home without a backward glance. "Serene, get your brother and you go on home, too. I'll deal with him." She pushed Ahe none too gently toward their house, followed by a hard smack upside his head. "Stupid little fucker."
Serene helped Cedar to a standing position, brushing the dirt off his face and knees, the anger draining away almost as fast as it came.
Two days later, Cedar was dead, and a week after that, Ahe showed up at her front door, a rainbow of bruises under his eyes, lips scabbed. He held in his arms a grey and white blue nose pitbull.
"She get ten weeks," he said. "Her name's Kai, but you can call her whatevas." His dark eyes met hers and she took the dog gently, hugging her warmth to her chest, inhaling her puppy breath. Ahe turned to leave.
"Ahe," she called out to the boy.
"Yeah?"
Their eyes met again. Serene wanted to say mahalo. She wanted to say she was sorry. She wanted to say that nothing felt real anymore.
He gave a little nod after some seconds. "K den."
She said nothing.
The puppy she named Sahana.
27
Counselor: Claudia Lipstein, Session Date: February 19, 2020
Time: 2:00 PM, Session #26
Client Name: Dora Jones/Serene Hokulani
(D) The client was especially agitated when she arrived for her session. The agitation stemmed from seeing her children and returning to a house she no longer recognizes. Early in the session, Serene expressed shock at learning that her children's father is her high school friend, Steve Bates. She also expressed some anger toward Erica for not telling her. I pointed out that Erica had mentioned this aspect of her relationship with him and I reminded her that we had discussed her surprise at Steve being the father of her children in past sessions. Serene appeared stunned when I told her this. She has no recollection of these conversations. I found this very curious. However, I would soon find out why. This is the first session where Serene had an alternate personality openly come out to talk with me, but she wasn't Dora.
(A) When Serene speaks of her family, it is either in the abstract or third person. Her children, she calls them. Serene spent much of the session venting her anger about her alternate personality, Dora, and the feeling that her life was stolen from her. She expressed no concern about her children's wellbeing and only brought them up in very oblique ways. I do not think Serene has wholly assimilated the idea yet that the children indeed belong to her. As Serene spoke, she grew more and more agitated. I suggested hypnosis thirty minutes into the session. I felt her strong emotion might be a catalyst for reaching Dora. Serene became very quiet when I made that suggestion, and her left eye began to twitch. At the same time, she massaged her left temple with her fingertips. I asked the client if she was okay. The client lowered her head, but I could see a smile forming on her lips. When she looked up, her eyes had a different look.
Below is a transcript of our recorded conversation.
"Are you still Serene?"
"No."
"Are you Dora?"
"No."
Note: smile was cocky and a bit cold.
"What is your name?"
"Sahana."
"Sahana, it's nice to meet you. My name is Claudia Lipstein. I'm Serene's psychotherapist."
"I know who you are."
"And what is your relationship to Serene?"
"I'm her twin, can't you tell? We're identical."
"I see. Sahana, what brings you here this afternoon?"
"I'm real good at pretending to be Serene. No one's ever been able to tell."
"And why do you like to pretend to be Serene?"
"Who says I like it?"
"Why do you pretend to be Serene?"
"Why do you think?"
"I'm not sure, Sahana, that's why I'm asking you."
"She can't handle it."
"Who?"
"Serene. Who else?"
"What can't Serene handle?"
"Things. Life."
"And you can?"
"Bettah than her."
"Does Serene ever pretend to be you?"
"Serene? Miss Lipstein, that's too funny."
"Do you and Serene talk to each other?"
"Nah. Serene's too wrapped up in herself to know she got a twin. I mean, she knows kinda, but she doesn't like it."
"I see. And Dora––who is she in regard to Serene?"
"Oh man, Miss Lipstein, Serene's got you fooled."
"What do you mean?"
"Serene is Dora."
"Serene doesn't seem to think so."
"Okay, it's like this. When Serene gets all overwhelmed like, she pretends to be badass Dora."
"Badass Dora?"
"Yeah, Miss, Dora is a badass. She gets things done. You know what I mean?"
"Uh-huh. Sahana, what do you think of this feeling of time travel that Serene talks about. Do you have this sensation as well?"
"It's not a sensation, Miss. She does time travel."
"Can you explain that a little more to me?"
"Well, like, I'm not a scientist and shit."
"I'm only interested in the general sense of what Serene might mean."
"Yeah. Oh, I got you. Like, well, it's like we're all in different time periods and we travel back and forth. It's fucking trippy. So, like, I'm here now, but mostly I'm not."
"And what period do you usually reside in?"
"I don't know."
Note: Here the client's tone becomes soft.
"It's just, the last thing I remember, I was sixteen
