Molly

Molly is a novel which follows the recovery of a middle-aged woman as she wakes up from a nine-month-long coma. During her coma, the result of a tragic accident in which she loses her dying son, Molly meets and falls in love with Hakim, a mysterious character who disappears when she awakens. Molly is left dealing with her grief and recovery in the presence of her husband Jonathan. Suffering from amnesia, her mental health worsens as she tries to retrieve and comprehend her memories of both the accident and the coma. Family and doctors struggle to understand her trauma and the impact it has on her. Research to develop this novel included academic texts relating to grief, trauma, guilt and identity. This research was undertaken in order to create a believable narrative for the main character that follows the stages of grief and focuses on dealing with survivor guilt. Further texts focused on cancers in children, their treatment and survivability. In addition, autobiographical accounts of memory loss were examined to provide context in dealing and living with memory loss on a day-to-day basis, and the impact it has on individuals and their families. Written narratives of coma experiences were also examined to gather information about the diversity of experiences and the complexity surrounding the recovery from severe trauma. Finally, a series of interviews was conducted in order to understand the impact guilt has on individuals and their identity, especially in cases where the individual suffered the loss of a close family member. Molly focuses on themes of guilt and grief and their impact on personality, identity and family life. It examines coping mechanisms used to address severe grief and their impact. The goal is to raise empathy and provide a greater understanding of the depth of grief.Arts, Faculty ofGraduat