In Memory of Jason Perkins

Name: Jason Perkins Age: 26 DOB: April 3rd 1979 POB: London, England Hair: Dark brown Eyes: Green Height: 5’9” Weight: 140 Identifying Marks: Various scars on his body, most prominent one on his right hip. Place of Residence: Greenlaw, Scotland Hobbies: Films, reading, sailing, drawing, music (especially classical and musical) Languages: English, French, Latin Family: Father, Jeremy Perkins (deceased). Mother, Miranda Stark-Perkins Seat: 12 A

Background: Jason Perkins was born in London, England, to Miranda Stark-Perkins and her husband, Jeremy Perkins. His mother was from the aristocracy, the sister of Jerome Stark, an Earl, while his father was a middle-class teacher. Jason grew up in a small house in London with his parents, until his father died of cancer when Jason was five. His mother, just a teacher herself, had to seek help from her family. Her older brother George started to help, often volunteering to babysit the young Jason while his mother was working two jobs.

Jason was a bright lad, but always quiet. His mother didn’t notice anything unusual in his behaviour, except whenever he would have anger fits when someone mentioned his uncle George. Within six months those fits were gone, and Jason spent most of his time in his room. Miranda worried about him, but she had too been a quiet child. She dismissed it as nothing but him needing privacy with his books, and the fact that George had hired them a private tutor only gave her the reassurance that her only child was being taken good care of.

What she didn’t know was that George was sexually abusing Jason, from he was a little past his sixth birthday until he was 12. It was by chance that Miranda returned home early, and caught her brother with her son. She kicked George out, spending the next days arguing with her family. In the end, it was decided to keep it quiet, if George paid for the counselling sessions that Jason would get.

Jason spent a few summers with the Stark family, until he was 16 and his mother moved with him to Kent. He was still a quiet lad, and the psychiatrist he visited diagnosed him with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It would take years of therapy to make Jason better, if he ever truly recovered from it.

Jason was interested in literature, and returned to London when he was 20 to take a bachelor degree in English Language and Literature. He had to change psychiatrist, and for the first time in his life he was alone. After having a flashback in the classroom, his new psychiatrist recommended that Jason should spend time at a mental institution, until his situation had improved. Since his mother refused to let it happen, he called in a friend of his, Christopher Wilde, to evaluate the situation.

But Christopher Wilde only recognised that what Jason needed was stability. He did not have Jason sent away, instead he arranged a compromise. Jason rented a room in Christopher’s house, and Christopher offered him a stable environment as Jason completed his studies, as well as someone to talk to. But after three years, Christopher realised that his intentions were no longer so innocent. He had fallen in love with the warm young man who too often looked as if he was all alone in the world.

What Christopher didn’t know was that Jason felt the same way. After graduating he finally took the courage, and kissed him. Within a year, Christopher and Jason moved to Greenlaw in Scotland, where Christopher started a small psychiatric office. They had a small house, and even if they didn’t get too much money in, Jason’s essays which he published under a different name and Christopher’s savings kept them well.

In 2005 they had spent two weeks in Japan on vacation, and were heading for Seattle for a week of driving through America, when the plane went missing.

Special notes: Jason suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of systematic sexual abuse in his childhood. Many people with PTSD repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts, especially when they are exposed to events or objects reminiscent of the trauma. Anniversaries of the event can also trigger symptoms. People with PTSD also experience emotional numbness and sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and irritability or outbursts of anger. Feelings of intense guilt are also common. Most people with PTSD try to avoid any reminders or thoughts of the ordeal. PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms last more than one month. For Jason, the flashbacks and sleep disturbances are frequent, while he never has any outbursts of anger.

Player's Contact: Adam