Theodore Ingals

“ A man who has been perishing of thirst will not allow logic to stand in his way when he is confronted with plenteous water. He will drink and drink until he is uncomfortably sated. If undeterred he will become rather sick. You, Mr. Swarz, are that thirsty man."
"I... see...."
"Exactly. You had a thirst for normalcy. It was, during your childhood, consistently denied to you. You left home and found yourself with an all-consuming thirst for being a healthy ego... for being natural. You follow me."
It wasn't a question, but Jay Swarz felt constrained to answer "Yess." ”

“ Your clouded imagination will be cleared by the calm, cooling breezes of reason."
"L-look into my mirror steadily?"
"Precisely. Drive out the false visions that have been plaguing you so unfairly. Once gone they will never return. On that I stake my reputation."
It was a new Jay Swarz who turned the key of his small apartment. It was a new Jay Swarz that tossed his coat onto his bed. It was something he had wanted to do all his life, a life given to circumspectly genuflecting to all the hallowed proprieties. That was over. Done. He was a snake shedding its dull skin for a brighter one... ”

“ And he was before the mirror.
Open your eyes... stare... steadily... open your eyes... nothing can hurt you... it will help... teach you the truth... help you... open broad lanes... to happiness... wipe out the past... the gray past... the punishing past... open your eyes... see the new world... your world... open your eyes....
And he opened his eyes.
His reflection... nothing to worry about... it looked at him... as he looked at it... calm... both calm... as it should be... expressions the same... as they should be... psychiatrist right... as he should be... learned man... wise man... ”

“ Serving the interests of virtue, one might do everything in one's power... and then fail. How? By looking, smiling at, daring to admire one's reflected form in a mirror. The human form was a debased thing of evil that only served to lead its owner off the garden path. ”

“ Hand upon the door... fear...twist the knob... no... think... psychiatrist's advice... a learned man... helps people who need guidance... twist the knob... try... sweat forming on a corrugated forehead... Twist the knot... everything explained... logically... exactly... mathematically... truthfully... that last very important.... twist the knob....
And he was inside.
Walk up to the mirror... boldly... stare steadily... unafraid... block out the false phantoms... do it. It's easy... one leg before the other... go ahead... hesitation only hurts... makes things harder... foolish... ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1977, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 45 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
It is imperative that contributors search the renewal databases and ascertain that there is no evidence of a copyright renewal before using this license. Failure to do so will result in the deletion of the work as a copyright violation. ”

“ He fought himself, but his eyes shot toward his reflection. It was grinning... wringing its hands....
The psychiatrist wielded his pen with sure, broad strokes. A man untroubled by personal ghosts. A man who slew the morbid fancies and terrorizing thoughts of others. He scratched a last notation, his lips forming the inaudible words "psychosis ... auto-suggestion...."
Jay squirmed forward in his chair as the psychiatrist leaned back and studied him.
"Does... does it mean I am crazy?"
The other's full, rich carefully practiced tones fell upon Jay Swarz like a protective benediction: "No. ”

“ However, I am not afraid. It is a figment. I know it. You told me so. But it is there... to be destroyed. Isn't that progress?"
The psychiatrist backing up... professionally polite... words... words that have no meaning... professional... backing to the door... understanding...understanding.
"I'm sorry I troubled you, sir. It was nothing. Nothing at all."
"Quite all right, Mr. Swarz. Just take my advice. Don't be afraid... don't be afraid..." and he was gone.
Failure I The psychiatrist had lied. Evident. He had seen it too. Wouldn't admit it. Have to help one's self. The only way... ”