Stigma-Free Delphi Oracle

If my daughter Alix had been born in ancient Greece, she might have become a revered Delphic oracle making mystical pronouncements. The oracle’s indecipherable utterances called for interpretation. Greek warriors placed complete faith in her prophecies and made battle plans accordingly. In the throes of mania, Alix cloaked herself in a spiritual mantle and proclaimed her words of wisdom. But the modern-day world stigmatized her.

After Alix’s manic episode and hospitalization her freshman year of college, her best friend cut her off and didn’t acknowledge her when they were in the same French class the following year. Alix became the pariah on campus and transferred. Her good friend from high school never spoke with Alix again once she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Eight years later, her ex- high school friend attended Alix’s funeral and handed me a photo of the two of them standing next to each other moments before they joined their senior prom dates. Alix beamed and wore a black lace gown with her long blonde hair arranged in a bun.

The photo was to make amends, but I wished her friend had stood by my daughter in life.