Yasmine had never faced such a puzzle before. Engaging with a m**al health patient, especially during deep subconscious chats, was all about reaching the core of their true emotions. In short, lying wasn''t an option. Yasmine was baffled as to why Yoselin was painting pictures of events that had never actually urred.


    She continued her inquiry. "You''re witnessing a downpour of snowfl**es, and thendscape is white. There''s a chill in the air, but then the melodies of Christmas carols ring in your ears, signaling the festive season. What else do you see?" "Brother, myself, and Yasmine, all huddled near the Christmas tree, belting out carols together," Yoselin replied.


    Yasmine was taken aback, questioning why she was part of this tale again. The memory of a summer concert or a Christmas sing-along just didn''tpute in her mind. Then a figure shed in her thoughts, someone who might just fit into these imagined scenarios. ''Could it be that Irene was present with Yonas and Yoselin, and Yoselin''s condition has muddled her memories?'' Yasmine thought, still skeptical, yet she wrapped up the session.


    That night, after putting the finishing touches on hertest paper, Yasmine hit send, dispatching it into the digital realm.


    *****


    The next day, Lena rang her up. "Yasmine, I''ve gone over your paper, and it''s even more enlightening than your previous work. The data model you''ve devised this time is exceptional." "Lena, it''s all thanks to the data you handed me. I''d have been lost without it," Yasmine said.


    Lena''s voice bubbled with enthusiasm. "I''m considering submitting your paper


    to the Dekker Competition. What are your thoughts?"


    "Lena, do you genuinely believe I have a shot?" Yasmine''s spirits soared with optimism.


    The Dekker Competition was a prestigious psychology research contest, typically reserved for well-known experts and professors.


    Yet, here she was, a school psychologist with a mere three publications to her name. The Dekker Competition had a stringent selection process, and she was uncertain if she''d make the grade.


    Lena sensed her apprehension and swiftly assured her, "Definitely, you do. I''ve shown your previous works to many, and they''ve all given a positive nod. It''s a breeze." "Thanks, Lena," Yasmine said, her voiceced with gratitude.


    "Don''t mention it. I''ll forward you the registration formter. Be sure to fill it out and list me as the reference," Lena instructed.


    Yasmine wasn''t about to pass up such an opportunity. Lena was a Dekkerureate, and the first-ce winners always had a nomination spot. Typically, Lena would bestow it upon her students, but this year, she''d chosen Yasmine, a gesture for which she was immensely thankful. thankful.


    Thepetition''s evaluation spanned three days, so during this period, she kept mum. For these three days, she ditched school and dedicated herself to treating Yoselin.


    Yoselin''s condition had stabilized, but she hadn''t returned to her former vivacious and cheerful demeanor. Lately, she was a mere shadow of her former self, only finding sce in Yasmine''s presence. "Yasmine, were you rescued, too?" Yose in inquired cautiously, scanning their surroundings for any lurking danger.


    Yasm offered a reassuring pat on her head. "We hoth


    2%


    2%


    "Who came to our rescue?" Yoselin questioned, her eyes brimming with curiosity.


    At that moment, the door swung wide, and Morgan strode in. Yasmine gestured toward him and said, "He''s the one who saved us."


    Yoselin


    stared at Morgan, scrutinizing him closely. It wasn''t until he was about to ascend the stairs that she finally asked, "It doesn''t add up. Is it really him?"


    Yasmine suddenly realized that Yoselin might not be referring to the kidnapping incident but perhaps to the time when Yoselin experienced her psychological breakdown.


    "It was your brother back then, and this time, it was Morgan," Yasmine exined patiently.


    Unnoticed by Yasmine, Morgan, who was climbing the stairs, paused momentarily, especially upon hearing "back then." He turned to look at Yasmine, pondering if she was already aware of that abduction. Yoselin continued, "Yasmine, ,how is it going between you and my brother?" Yasmine shook her head. "Do you recall Irene?"


    Yoselin''s gaze turned


    I cold, and after a long moment of reflection, she said, "Irene? Yeah, I remember her."


    Morgan couldn''t bear to listen any longer and interjected, "Yoselin, don''t mention your brother around Yasmine."


    "Why not?" Yoselin asked.


    "Irene''s back in the picture, and he''s too engrossed with her. Yasmine''s decided to move on from the past," Morgan said, his face stern.


    Yoselin was taken aback. "How could that be? I thought Irene was still in Soucrity."


    Yasmine''s eyes narrowed as she and Morgan shared a nce. She wondered if Yoselin''s memory had frozen before Irene left the country.


    *


    Yoselin, how old do you think you are now?" Yasmine inquired.


    45


    Yoselin pondered for a bit. "I can''t recall. Why can''t I remember?" She cradled her head, the intense pain making her want to bang it against something.


    "Don''t overthink it, Yoselin," Yasmine advised, unsure of what was going on with Yoselin. Yoselin could speak, yet she''d lost her recent memories. Yasmine was curious why Yoselin remembered her and no one else.


    This was way out of the ordinary, and she needed to consult Lena and Eric for some rity.


    The Dekker Competition results came in a sh. After three days of preliminary reviews, her paper sailed through to the next round. Lena had seen thising, so it was no shock to her.


    The news rippled through the school on the day Yasmine returned to her duties. Carter and Winston both called, asking about the Dekker Competition.


    Making it past the initial screening was already a feather in her prestige was unmatched by any regr psychology journal.


    cap; Dekker''s


    If she really clinched a spot, Yasmine would be rubbing shoulders with the world''s leading psychologists and might even get an offer to the Dekker M**al Health Institute.


    Carter called a meeting, dering that for the next few months, all psychology professors were to support Yasmine in her quest for a Dekker win, which would bring unparalleled prestige to Aurelithe University.


    Yasmine had already shown the paper to Winston. Remembering theirst mishap, Winston quickly encrypted the document with two passwords. Aurelithe University''s internalwork was pretty secure, but just to be safe, Winston had even added a self-destruct feature. Dekker wasn''t just any tform; if giarism as detected, Yasmine would be cklisted from futurepetitions.


    Now, it was just a preliminary hurdle, and the next round was an online defense. If she made it past this, Yasmine would be jetting off for a month-longpetition behind closed doors. That would be a whole new ballgam and thepetition would be fierce. Meanwhile, Eric had sent Yasmine a trove of memory disorder materials a case reports, a goldmine for treating Yoselin.


    Yasmine dug into those case reports, but none mirrored Yoselin''s condition Other people''s memory disorders typically involved blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, but there were no cases ofplete memory or the seamless blending of future memories with the past. Yoselin''s unwavering responses even made Yasmine second-guess herself f moment, wondering if she had indeed known Yoselin in the past and hung together. Lately, she''d been hypnotizing Yoselin tomunicate with her subconsci Now, she had to ask Eric, "Mr. Smith, is Yoselin a poor fit for hypnosis now?  GGG.