The list of traumas in Constance’s life went on and on until she simply could not function in society. She checked herself into the hospital, pleading desperately for help and some form of supervision. She did not trust herself or what she might be driven to do next.
As I sat in my office waiting for Jonquinette and her parents to arrive for their first joint therapy session, I couldn’t imagine what had triggered her MPD and how Jude had been created. Other than the fact that she had been bullied as a child, which didn’t sit quite well with me, there was no other obvious reasoning behind the events that had transpired.
Jude herself didn’t realize that she was crying out for help by sleeping with various men. She assumed that promiscuity was a display of power but nothing was further from the truth. Self-degradation is no better than someone else doing the degrading. I had a general idea of how I planned to proceed with Jonquinette’s healing process, but first I wanted to meet her parents and see how they interacted with her.
Jonquinette showed up first. I was glad that she came in separately because it gave us an opportunity to chat alone.
After she came into my inner office and sat down, I asked her, “So how are things?”
“I can’t tell you how much better I feel,” she said.
“Really? Why is that?”
She leaned up and whispered, “Mason and I did it. We made love.”
She giggled with delight and I faked a smile. I wasn’t so sure getting sexually involved with Mason Copeland at that point in time was such a great idea. It might just serve to complicate matters.
“Jonquinette, if you are happy, I am happy for you.”
“Thanks!” She leaned back in the chair. “Oh, guess who I just ran into in the parking lot.”
That was a no-brainer since she’d just left my office. “Zoe?”
“Yes. She’s so sweet. She even gave me her card in case I want to talk.”
“That’s great. Zoe is a very compassionate woman and you may need to hear some of the things she has to say.”
I meant every word of that previous statement. In many ways, Zoe and Jonquinette were identical and in many others they were not. Zoe had a sexual addiction while Jonquinette, or Jude rather, used sex to make a statement.
Jonquinette glanced at my wall clock. “Humph, I wonder why my parents are late.”
No sooner had she said that when a knock came at the door. A stunning-looking couple entered and my first thought was that they seemed way too happy for two people who had just found out that the only child they shared together was ill.
Jonquinette jumped up and made the introductions. “Dr. Spencer, these are my parents, Henry and Meredith Pierce.”
I shook both of their hands. “It’s very nice to meet you.”
Henry replied, “Same here. I just wish it was under better circumstances.”
“Please have a seat,” I said, directing them to my leather couch. Jonquinette sat down on the chaise and I sat in an armchair.
Meredith said, “Sorry we’re late. Henry just got back from dropping Flower back off in North Carolina.”
“Flower was here?” Jonquinette asked, obviously stunned.
Meredith laughed uncomfortably. “Don’t be silly, Precious. Of course, Flower was here. You spent the day with her.”
Jonquinette’s mouth fell open and the rest of us came to the same conclusion simultaneously.
Henry said, “Oh shit! You mean my baby girl spent the afternoon with that wench!”
No one responded and Jonquinette decided to lie down on the chaise instead of just sitting there.
Meredith said, “Jonquinette, does that mean that you don’t know about our news?”
“What news?” Jonquinette asked.
Henry cleared his throat. “The news about your momma getting back together with me.”
I studied Jonquinette’s reaction. She clamped her eyes shut and sighed. “No, I didn’t have a clue.”
Meredith folded her hands on her lap but I could still see them trembling. She glimpsed at me uneasily. “I guess we should talk about that later. We’re here for Jonquinette.”
I waited for Jonquinette to make any comments about the revelation. When she remained silent, I moved on. “As you know, Jonquinette is suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder, otherwise known as MPD. It is also commonly referred to as Dissociative Identity Disorder. Ideas about MPD date back to the 1800s. This is not a new concept.”
Meredith asked, “So what exactly is it and how can we stop it?”
“Basically, Jonquinette has at least one alter personality who was created to free her from the memories and experiences that were too difficult for her to rationally deal with.”
Henry said, “So are we talking about a mental illness? Is she insane?”
I shook my head. “No, Jonquinette is not insane. That was her assumption at first as well. Jonquinette is perfectly capable of leading a normal life without having to drown herself in pills or being hospitalized. What she has done, in a nutshell, is devise an innovative survival technique.”
Meredith shifted in her seat. “You said at least one alter. Does that mean there are more?”
Even as I made eye contact with her mother, I could sense Jonquinette staring at me. “That is a possibility but as of now, the only one we need to concern ourselves with is Jude. She’s obviously the most powerful and the one causing all the problems.”
Henry shook his head in dismay. “I still can’t believe that wench was left alone with Flower.”
Jonquinette sat back up on the chaise. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but why would you let me baby-sit Flower knowing my situation.”
Jonquinette’s parents glared at each other as I could sense their guilt.
Jonquinette continued, “Until we get this all straightened out, don’t dare do that again. Flower is a sweetheart and if she meets up with Jude while she’s angry, there’s no telling what might happen.” She paused and asked, “You couldn’t tell it wasn’t me?”
“No, not that time,” Meredith quickly responded. “I won’t lie. Looking back on things, there were times when I should have known something was terribly wrong. Like that time when we had dinner recently and you called me a whore.”
Henry glared at Jonquinette. “You called your momma a whore?”
Jonquinette smacked her lips. “It wasn’t me, Daddy. You’re still missing the point. I’ve never intentionally set out to hurt anyone. I would never call Momma a whore. That’s disrespectful and you didn’t raise me that way.”