He was a handsome young man. In the counseling session he spoke of politics, love, plans for college.

I marveled at his many strengths.

Tentatively, he then announced that he’d written the Beatles’ songs.

He wept in painful awareness of the impossibility of false memories, the cruelty of his illness.

Many years ago, as a mental health professional, Alison worked with this young man. His anguish is still fresh in her mind, yet his resiliency prevailed. Alison hopes that this small story will make you stop and reconsider your assumptions about those who have a mental health diagnosis.