text: “As a young boy he was never very good at making friends. He didn’t really seem to like the other children in his class and chose to kick sand in their faces rather than play tag with them,” The woman chuckled at the memory. “Did he get in many fights then?” The man was scribbling away on his notebook. “Oh no not really. He was a sweet kid, all his teacher adored him at that age. He only ever attacked when provoked. You know how children can be, trying to assert their dominance. He was an easy target, but soon he learned, a lot younger than most, that if he just ignored them they would go away.” “That is impressive, especially for such a young boy.” “Oh yes he was a bright child. My sweet Ethan. I worried about him not making friends, but then he started talking about one of his classmates more and more.” “Do you remember the other child's name” “Oh yes of course. Max. They seemed to be getting close and I was happy he had found someone to get along with. Growing up can be so hard especially when going at it alone.” “When was this?” “Oh Ethan must have been 12. Starting puberty, oh dear all those raging hormones. He was starting to become a moody teenager already. I couldn’t stand the thought of my Ethan growing up but what is a mother to do? Boys will be boys. He started spending all his time with Max. They were inseparable those two. Always out on adventures in town. I’d hear from shop keepers all the time about them seeing Ethan running around wild. I use to get scolded for that you know, Letting him have so much freedom. What exactly could I do? Lock him away? He was as stubborn as his father had been. “Soon though I began to worry about him. He started pulling away from me. I know thats to be expected from a teenager, but we had always been so close. He was my angel. He became very secretive always locked up in his room. Sometimes I’d even hear him shouting. When I went up to investigate he’d just look at me and say something like ‘Max and I got into a fight’.” “Tell me more about his friend Max.” “Oh what is there to tell? Pre-teen boys are always a mystery to their mothers. I never even really saw him much to be honest. When ever he came over they would stay up in Ethan's room. As quiet as mice those two. He was clean, never left a mess, unlike Ethan always spread about. Most of the time they were out of the house. Either in town or over at Max’s I assume. Though I got the vibe Max didn’t have a good home life.” “Why is that?” “Anytime I’d ask Ethan about it he’d mutter about something or other. The story always shifted. I had a feeling he was hiding something his friend didn’t want spread around. I worried about Ethan being exposed to anything, but then again thats life. “High school was the hardest. Ethan got into all kinds of trouble. He was a smart kid, but always failing, skipping class. He got busted with pot a few times, but back then all that got you was a smack on the wrist. “He never spoke to me now. I tried to control him I did, but he just never seemed to listen. I think that Max kid was turing him against me. Bad influence and all. My Ethan would never have.... He was a sweet kid. A good boy, it was Max, it was all Max.” There was a long pause. “Can you tell me about the day when it happened?” “Ethan was always an easy target, an outsider. He was bitter toward the world, never had he seen a kind hand in it. Not his waste of space father nor those bastard teachers who never gave him a break. Everyone just wrote him off. They didn’t see him the way I did, the sweet little boy he was. Oh Ethan...” “Do you remember what happened?” “He was rarely home those days, always out with Max. That rotten seed of a kid. Always filling his head up with these... ideas. He used Ethan. I swear it! It was all Max’s idea, he just didn’t have the guts to do it himself!” “Yes, but what happened? You need to tell me.” “His father was a hunter, stupid man never could hit a target three feet in front of him. Thats probably why he left all his guns when he took off. I kept them in the attic, didn’t know what to do with them. I hated the damn things, wanted to get rid of them. I was getting around to it, I was just so busy. “I don’t know when Ethan found them, I bet it was Max any how. Going through my things. The two of them must have been shooting in the field. I found bullet casings once. Never gave it much thought, there are hunters all around. Thought one of them had just wandered onto my property. I never knew...I never knew..” “Where were you when it happened?” “At work. The police came and took me away. Everyone was staring at me. Like it was my fault. It was Max! All Max, oh if I ever get my hands on that child... For what he did to my sweet boy. Ethan would never hurt a fly, not unless provoked. Thats how he always was. Kids can be so mean, trying to assert their dominance, it wasn’t his fault. Ethan I know it wasn’t you baby I know, mama knows.” “Ma’am your son killed 5 of his school mates at point blank range, and then himself, with a hunting rifle You need to accept this.” “No no no no no, it was Max, it wasn’t Ethan. Max did it. Max...” She began to mutter on and on. The Doctor could tell the session was over. He got up and left the room leaving the woman rocking herself on the bed. A nurse was waiting in the hall. “How was she today?” “Better I got her to remember the actual event, and some things leading up to it.” “Did she mention Max?” “Oh yes, she blames him for the whole thing in fact.” “Well she isn’t wrong. Schizophrenia rarely leaves the person in control. This “Max” persona may have simply just been a projection of Ethan’s darkest desires, but she had to know Max was never real.” “I can’t say when she realized he wasn’t real, if it was before or after. Obviously now she is in denial, but she knows. Mental illness is genetic. This is the best example I have seen of this in all my years.” The doctor began to walk away down the hall. “Do you think Ethan knew he wasn’t real?” “We will never know will we. All that died with him, 20 years ago.