In a dimly lit hospital room sat three figures. A middle-aged man in a white robe with a stethoscope, a middle-aged woman who looks to be in her 20s, and a young black boy with disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes.
"Did you get any sleep?" The doctor asked the boy who refused to make eye contact; glancing around timidly as if plagued by the hands of anxiety.
"No he didn't." replied the woman.
Taking off his glasses and putting them on his desk the doctor let out a short sigh of frustration, "Sam, I can't help you, if you don't first try to help yourself. At least nod your head in response so we can get somewhere, ok?" No answer.
Just as the doctor was about to pick up his paperwork to leave he heard something under the teenage boy's breath, "What was that?" The man asked.
"I said my name is not Sam. My name is Samuel, Samuel Bermuda." Looking at the frail boy with some clarity in his eyes, the doctor realized something, but to make sure he wasn't mistaken he probed the young man.
"I have your files right here, and your name is listed as Sam B. Furginson. I can understand if Samuel is your nickna-"
"It's not a nickname, it's my real name, and you will refer to me as such…you wrinkly old fart."
The woman looked absolutely shocked, "Sammy don't talk to him like that, I'm so sorry" she said turning towards the doctor, "I've never heard him talk like this before; he's usually so timid and shy, maybe it's the lack of sleep getting to him." She said looking at the boy like he was possessed, and maybe he was.
"I'm serious mom don't call me that; not Sam or Sammy, just Samuel"
"Alright dear," she responded.
Putting the documents back on his desk, the doctor reached for a small notebook in his drawer and began writing. After a while he looked at the mother, completely ignoring the boy.
"Ma'am I'm going to ask you a series of questions regarding your child, please answer to the best of your capabilities."
Nodding her head the woman said nothing. "Has your child ever shown symptoms of memory loss?"
"No, but there are times when he wakes up confused. For example, the other day I saw him in the living room sleeping, and when I woke him up, he asked me who I was and where he was. But I think that's just him being drowsy; that happens to everyone after waking up from sleeps as far as I'm concerned."
Scribbling in his notebook the man continued to ask, "Has your child expressed any problems regarding voices in his head or any out-of-body experiences?"
The mother, whose name is Linda kept answering questions as the man kept asking.
After a certain amount of time, he finally stopped writing and said, "well it would seem as though your child is showing symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder. I'll have to prescribe some antidepressants, and anti-anxiety drugs to improve his psyche and overall health. As of now there are no cures for D.ID, but these drugs will help improve his mental health."
After finalizing the patient and prescribing the medications, the doctor sent the two home. On his way home while in a taxi with his mother, the boy thought to himself, "Me, I have D.I.D?"