The Silent Patient

Back at The Grove, Theo confronts Alicia with what he has learned from Paul. He tells her, “What your father said is tantamount to psychic murder. He killed you” (275). At this point, Alicia looks straight at Theo with a “murderous gaze.” He clearly struck a chord. Theo tells her that this is their last chance: He isn’t even supposed to be meeting with her and when Lazarus finds out about their meeting, he will likely fire Theo. Finally, Alicia speaks. She wants to know what Theo wants from her. Theo, his eyes filling with tears of emotion, tells her, “I want you to keep talking […] Talk to me” (276), and Alicia, now verbal, says “okay.”

Theo meets with Lazarus to tell him about Alicia’s talking. Lazarus gives him permission to keep working with Alicia. He congratulates Theo on his work. Theo says, “I felt a small flicker of pride—a son congratulated by his father” (278). During Theo’s next session with Alicia, she tells him her story—first, the story of her silence, and second, the story of the night of Gabriel’s death.