"Veronica, where did I put my notes for tonight?"

Diana was panicking as she prepared to present her dissertation. She had the same roommate she had as an undergraduate. It was 5 years after earning her undergraduate degree and everyone was surprised at how she had gone through her coursework,research and completed her dissertation,without even taking summers off. But Diana seemed not to be feeling herself lately and it worried her now fiancé and her roommate who was almost finished with with her PhD in psychology.

"On the coffee table."

"William wants to move to Vegas, what can an academic do in Vegas?!"

"You have job interviews lined up, come on,let's go take my car to the ugliest building on earth."

" I hate the humanities building. It's worse than the church." Diana and Veronica were attending graduate school at the University of Wisconsin Madison, where William had also recently graduated from law school.

"Well tonight is your night to shine my friend. Let's go."

That night it felt almost painful to get through her presentation, but she tried her best. Life was difficult the next few months for her, but she told anyone who asked that it was stress. She kept on wondering if it was something else, but kept on telling herself she was just fine.

The day of commencement, walking in her fancy doctoral gown, was the happiest day of her life. She thought she looked like she came straight out of her area of study, the Middle Ages. Those gowns were pompous as could be. As she began to sing Varsity, what she thought was the most beautiful song for alumni ever, she noticed that her school color was more red than she had ever seen and the singing more beautiful than ever before. It felt surreal.

By September she was married to William and had a job as a professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, thankful they had an opening. The months went by and things began to feel stranger and stranger. It was harder to lecture and research and a feeling of paranoia began to increase and whispers in her head turned louder. Self care diminished. William was afraid of what was happening and so was Veronica who had accepted a position at a newly formed community college nearby so she could be near her best friend and help her. She moved next door to Diana and William. Diana's sister had also been consulted. William was glad he could prepare a team for what he feared was the inevitable.

One morning came when it was clear intervention was needed. It was the day of the last final of the semester, she lay in bed, not wanting to leave.

"Diana, don't you have a final to administer?"

"William, I can't. The National Guard is watching me. I've been afraid to say anything, but I can sense it and just know it. I hear a voice telling me "Beware the soldiers and Nixon are coming for you. They know you didn't like the war and the government."

"Oh, Diana. You aren't well."

"Shh,they'll hear you."

"Diana, don't go anywhere." William who ran to the phone.

"Veronica, I think our worst fears have been confirmed. She's having a delusion and refusing to get out of bed. Oh, we need your help. Yes, I'll call her sister. She's on sabbatical now and will hopefully come."

When Veronica came it broke her heart to see her closest friend afraid and hiding under the covers."

"Diana,it's Veronica. I'm here to help you."

" Help me, I'm scared."

"I will, do you want to go see a doctor?"

"Why?"

"He could help Diana. As much as you feel this is real for you, I don't think you are in danger. I think your mind is playing tricks on you."

"Can we go see Dr Spock? I'll believe him. He was against the war."

"I know someone at the closest hospital who is against the war." Veronica did know someone who was and thought it would bring Diana comfort.

" Then we can make an appointment, unless you feel you feel you want to hurt yourself honey, I can't let you do that,then we'll go to the ER tonight" William declared.

"Don't either of you leave this room tonight. I need protection."

" We won't, sweetheart." William kissed his wife's forehead and went to talk to Veronica.

"William, one thing to remember is never to argue with someone who is delusional. It's so real to them, that you should just respectfully disagree. This does present itself like a classic case of Schizophrenia, but we need an actual diagnosis. The doctor I work with has a history of working with severe mental illnesses and is also aware of illnesses with similar symptoms. If I need to I will take a semester off."

"God bless you, so we need to rule other things out first?"

"Yes and keep Diana safe."

"I have court tomorrow, could you help? It's one thing seeing this as a lawyer,but I'm so afraid to face it at home."

"I understand. Let's call Anne first thing in the morning. 2 psychology majors will be better than one, plus I know that Diana and she share such a similar expression of their faith. Let's pray tonight asking all those in heaven who have been through a similar situation for help."

"Yes, let's do that."

They slept as well as they could that night, unsure of the future.