Esther Winslow

Esther Winslow was known by Lillian’s other personalities to be the angry one. She was often blamed by the others for slapping and trying to poison Lillian’s son James. She took Lillian on long bus rides and occasional car trips, leaving Lillian stranded hundreds of miles from home. 

Esther wrote in her journal:
“I have no need for therapy or communication with anyone in this world. No one can be trusted or counted upon in any circumstance. I need no one. All men are cruel and dangerous. All women are liars who use their children to get things for themselves. There is no such thing as a friend. I am simply biding my time until I have the necessary means to leave. I will then join my own family, who live in the South. Their name is Winslow. Perhaps you have heard of them? Unlike Lillian, I have both a mother and a father who love me dearly.”

During therapy, Esther’s memories began to seep into Lillian’s consciousness. Esther was the keeper of brutal, early childhood abuse, and carried those memories in order for Lillian to survive. Esther told Dr. Robinson, that as a child, she has been beaten with a baseball bat, razor strap, brush, horsewhip; or whatever was handy. Her stepfather Herbert used her for sex trafficking, bringing her to men in the neighborhood. When Esther was 12 years old, she tried to protect herself when Herbert tried to penetrate her with a lightbulb. During the fight that ensued, Herbert had a sudden heart attack and died. In recalling her memories, Esther spoke of her abuse factually and without emotion.

After all of Lillian’s personalities had emerged, Jean and Lillian were invited to present by the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. as a speaker during their  “Child Abuse and its Outcomes” conference. Many personalities participated, including six-year-old Amy who played the piano, Sarah Ann who presented a rendition of Red River Valley and chatted about makeup, boys and music and Esther, who displayed her splendid embroidery and macramé before speaking about her childhood abuse experiences. “Esther’s presentation was powerful,” wrote Jean. “She read her article in a strong voice and spoke eloquently of child abuse. Esther was just the right closing for the presentation.”