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Twenty years and a psychology degree later, I see clearly the signs Farris exhibited… signs I see mirrored in my own lovely daughter, Seon. 

They don’t come as early as Faris’, but they are there. 

“Mom?” She glances at me, then stares at her hands. Haltingly, she tells me what she has suffered: delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations. It's more than I could have known, and it's something I would never wish on anyone. When she's done, she’s crying. My chest feels hollow as I pull her close to me. 

“I believe you.” I rub her back softly. She looks up at me, her eyes, for the first time in a long time, unclouded. She smiles, a small wavering thing at first, but I don’t look away. She smiles fully and hugs me tighter.

“Thank you.” The last of the fear is gone and she sits back. We start to discuss what we should do next, but lapse into silence. Sunlight fills the room as the sun begins to set.

I glance up. A mirror covers the wall to one side of us. I look into it and there is Seon, sitting by my side. Do you see it, Faris? There is nothing magical looking back at me, but Seon’s expression is worth more than that. 

It’s hope.