The Year We Disappeared

As winter approaches, the cold causes John a great deal of pain. He is also concerned about his memory loss and lack of dreams. His doctor suggests that the massive blood loss after the shooting might have caused some minor brain damage, but overall, he isn’t terribly concerned. John also agrees to undergo hypnosis to see if his subconscious holds any details about the shooting. He remembers the blue car and three figures inside—two men and one of indeterminate gender—but the hypnosis yields no useful information.

Around this time, his friend, district attorney Winnie Woods, expresses concern over his anger and recommends therapy. John concedes she might be right. What if, he wonders, Meyer isn’t responsible for the shooting, and he’s been spending long hours plotting the assassination of the wrong man? He agrees to see a therapist. During their first session, the doctor says he understands John’s anger but that he needs to find other ways to deal with it. He also confesses that he used to see John jogging past his house, and watching him run has inspired him to do the same. The chances of seeing this particular doctor at this particular time strike John as more than coincidental.