I heard hands clapping and a voice saying, “Travis, Travis can you hear me?”

I opened my eyes and saw Dr. Chen sitting directly in front of me. I looked around the room not saying a word. “How long have I been here?” I said.

“Maybe ten minutes. How long do you think you’ve been here?”

“I’m not sure,” I said looking about the room. “What year is it?”

“It’s 2002. What year did you think it was? Are you okay?” he said looking concerned.

I rubbed my eyes and looked around. I reached in my pocket and pulled out my wallet. Inside I found my drivers license. I let out a sigh of relief.

“What happened Travis? You started to tell me about your walk in the woods and then you just got quiet.”

I looked around the room again and then my face contorted. I covered my eyes and cried. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, Are you alright Travis? Can you tell me what happened?”

I sat up, wiped the tears away and smiled. I reached over and gave Dr Chen a big hug.

“Wow! what brought this on?” he said.

“It felt as if I had just lived part of the past year over again, just differently.”

“Can you tell me about it?”

“No, I’d rather not right now, but can I ask you something?”

He nodded and I said, “Do you remember a former patient named Ben Fisher?”

“If I did know this person, it would be against the law for me to talk about it,” he said seeming a bit surprised.

“Please, tell me yes or no. Several years ago there was a man named Benji here on this very couch. He claimed to be a man named Travis. You said Travis was part of his illness. If this brings back any memories, please tell me so,” I said.

He cocked his head and squinted. “If I were to say yes, how would that make you feel?”

“I’d feel like it was real and not just a vivid dream.”

“I did have a patient that claimed to be a man named Travis. That’s all I will say,” he said.

“Thanks Dr. Chen, I think I need to go home.”

“I’d like to hear more about this if you don’t mind.”

“Not now, but maybe later,” I said.

I shook his hand, then settled the bill at the front desk. I felt a smile creep across my face at the thought of being back home. I couldn’t wait to see Susanne, the kids and Buddy. I walked out the front door into the bright sunshine and instead of going to my truck, I walked across the parking lot to a pay phone and fumbled through my pockets for change. I put in eight quarters and dialed my dad’s number.

“Hello? Dad, Dad it’s me, Travis. I just wanted to call and tell you how much I’ve missed you,” I said as tears poured down my cheeks.

“Are you okay? You sound troubled,” he said.

“Yes Dad, everything is fine now. I just wanted to tell you how much I love you.”

After the phone call, I got in my truck and drove home elated and relieved to be alive. I turned on the radio, blasted the tunes and sang along. I looked at the design on my left hand and smiled at the gift I’d been given by the wild God of the woods. No longer did I fear death nor did I weep for the dead, for now I knew that the dead are not truly gone.

I pulled into my driveway and got out and stared at the old house. Bella opened the screen door and Buddy ran out to great me. I bent down as he licked my face. As I walked towards the front door, Suzanne came out and asked, “How did you therapy go?”

“Fine,” I said. “I think it helped me a lot this time.”

“I made lunch if you’re hungry,” said Suzanne.

“I’ll be in, in a second,” I said sitting down on the old porch swing. Buddy jumped up and put his head on my lap. I petted Buddy’s head and looked out over towards the woods and smiled with a sigh.