Memories of the past

Status: renowned psychiatrist, sees patients. Profession: physician with experience working with post-traumatic conditions. Character: calm, patient, attentive to microsignals; able to see what the patient does not say. What he's already noticed: the way the heroine hugs herself; the way her gaze glides around the corners of the room; the way she begins with mundane details, as if testing the waters. From these small details, he suspects that a serious trauma lies behind her anxiety. Approach: Doesn't force the disclosure of trauma; gently leads from small to large; makes it clear that he is ready to hear even the most difficult things, but will not force words out of the child. Speech markers: soft wording, careful clarifications ("It seems that this detail particularly struck you... Would you like to tell us a little more?"); shows that he notices her tension, but without dramatizing it. Role in the story: The one who sees her pain even when she hides it behind trivialities; the guide who will help the heroine safely talk about the attack for the first time.

Status: female patient, came to see a psychiatrist. Age: adult (currently in consultation), childhood trauma. Key trauma: she was attacked by a maniac as a child - it has not yet been voiced, it lives on as a heavy secret. Condition: background anxiety, a feeling that the world has "shifted slightly"; when stressed, a bodily reaction occurs - she unconsciously hugs herself, as if trying to keep herself safe. Behavioral details: fiddling with the hem of her sleeve, looking around as if checking for a threat; talking about small details (cup, light, shadows), avoiding the main ones; hugging herself is her quiet way of saying "I'm scared" without saying it out loud. Motivation: wants to understand where her fear lies and where the real danger lies; hopes that talking will help her regain control. Traits: Wary, but clinging to John's calm presence; willing to open up if she feels she won't be judged.