My name is Bill Armstrong, and "Ryan and Jaybird" is a short story I have written about a woman with Dissociative Identity Disorder (multiple personalities). I have a few comments to make before I pass it your way, so I beg your patience for a moment. 

First, acknowledgements: This story could not have been written without the help of a woman I have come to know through the Internet, who battles DID on a daily basis. It was her online journal that initially showed me the difference between the Hollywood portrayals of this condition, and the reality. Thanks to her willingness to answer my *numerous* questions, and provide me with insight into the struggles she faces, I have been able to try and portray a DID sufferer in as realistic a light as possible, and to sidestep the inaccuracies and clichés that other portrayals of DID tend to contain. However, while I have taken inspiration from her and her journal, this story is in no way representational of her own personal experiences. Thank you, Emily. 

Second, a few warnings: 1) There is a good deal of emotional pain and psychological trauma involved in this story, and for those interested in reading this story who are DID sufferers, or sensitive to this type of confusion and pain, please approach this story with a great deal of caution. 2) Common in DID sufferers are extremes in personality, including profanity. There is language in this story that would easily earn it an 'R' rating in the movies. But please be aware: this was included for the sake of realism, not gratuitously. 

Bill Armstrong
barmstrong@cox.net

Note from Emily:
Bill approached me via email a few months ago telling he was writing a story about a character suffering from DID.  He actually wrote just to let me know that after he had read my journal on-line that he was embarrassed at how he had initially portrayed his character.

I offered to answer some questions for him and I appreciated the way he asked them.  He treated me, and my experience with respect.  He did not ask prying questions.  He asked questions that related directly to the experience of living with DID rather than what caused it.  For those who live with DID, I am sure you understand.

I share his story on my site because I do not think it is "typically" Hollywood.  I think he did a good job portraying the confusion and pain we have to cope with, daily.  Please remember, though, that it is a story--a creative story.

Please take care when reading it, since, as Bill said.... it is graphical and contains profanity.