Lucifer’s Tears. James Thompson

die.’

      ‘Kate is medicated for the hypertension associated with preeclampsia, the odds of her losing the child are slim. Your child is safe inside her.’

      ‘The odds aren’t slim enough. The statistics don’t make me less petrified.’

      He leans forward and locks eyes with me. For the first time I view him as someone trying to help me instead of as an adversary. ‘Kari,’ he says, ‘I think we’ve made a breakthrough. Our first one. What do you say we start again, and now really begin your treatment.’

      I nod.

      ‘How are your headaches?’ he asks.

      ‘Bad. A migraine is killing me right now. It hasn’t stopped for weeks.’

      ‘Describe the symptoms.’

      ‘They vary. Sometimes my temples pulse and throb. Sometimes it feels like I’m being stabbed deep in the head with a hot knife and an artery is about to explode. Most often though, I feel like my head is being squeezed, like a weight is on me, pushing me to the ground.’

      ‘This feeling of being stabbed deep in the head is medically impossible, because there are no nerves in that area. If you were about to have an aneurysm, you would never know it.’

      I hadn’t thought of that.

      ‘It’s possible that your migraines are caused by the gunshot wound to your head or another physical problem, but I would like you to consider the possibility that they’re psychosomatic, and that what you’re really experiencing are sublimated panic attacks generated by guilt over your wife’s miscarriage, and consequently, current fear for your wife and unborn child. That might be why the nearer she comes to term, the worse the headaches get.’

      ‘My headaches are panic attacks that last for weeks?’

      ‘Possibly. Still, I think you should have tests run to rule out physical problems.’

      ‘I already promised Kate I would.’

      ‘Good. Our time is up, and anyway, I think we should call it a day now.’

      ‘Me too.’

      For the first time since our initial meeting, we shake hands.