Like This, for Ever

37




‘SOME OF THE boys didn’t die right away, did you know that?’

The psychiatrist opened her mouth to speak.

‘You’d think if your throat was cut, right the way across from one ear to the other, you’d think you’d die pretty much straight away, wouldn’t you?’ continued the patient.

‘Even with very severe injuries, it can take a while for the body to shut down,’ said the psychiatrist.

‘There was this one kid I remember, his whole body was shivering. I suppose he was scared. He was, like, shaking with fear. I suppose I would have been.’

‘More likely his body was going into shock. Loss of blood and lack of oxygen getting to the main organs will send someone into shock. Seizures are quite a common symptom.’

‘He was looking at me while he was dying. Never took his eyes off me, all the time he was shaking and pissing himself. I’ll never forget that, the way he looked at me.’