A Green Chair & Silver Thorns – Esther Groenewald

A5, 146p.

Mental Health Problems can be a death sentence for most, but it does not have to be!

“It creates complete inner serenity and gives her control over her life. The dark crimson lines grow to become a sign of relief for her mutilated thoughts and broken heart. This is the moment where Alex can take a breath without feelings of despair, guilt or shame overcoming her entire being. This is the color that makes her forget about everything around her.”

After struggling with deep despair and destructive thoughts, Alexandra Crowe is diagnosed with major depressive disorder. She sees this as a puzzle that needs to be solved and certain past situations come creeping back to start the recovering process. With an unexplainable dream that torments her sleep, she finds solace in substance abuse, self-mutilation and binge drinking. Her suicide attempt should have been the end, but for Alexandra Crowe it was the start of a life she never expected. Will this attempt finally give her what she so desperately longs for? Or is the misery of life her destiny? And what are these mysterious figures in her dream?

“She stops abruptly, breathlessly collapsing on a silver thorn chair in the corner of a small, dark room. The big black horses with their mysterious riders fade behind cotton clouds. The clouds envelop her in a thick grey fog.”