"Is there a possibility that something devastating has happened to her in the orphanage? Something mentally and emotionally triggering?" the doctor asked.
"She hasn't talked of anything of the sought. She would have had it happened. We encourage a lot of openness amongst them," Mercy said.
"Can I speak to her alone? She might say something in the absence of familiar people. At their age, these kids tend to be private," the doctor explained.
"Are you sure it's about something at the orphanage?"
"I can't be sure. I just want to talk to her and know about her daily life. The answer might be there. She is definitely reacting to some trigger," the doctor went on.
Mercy and Arnold relented, and Carina and the doctor had a session, but still, the doctor didn't get anything from her and had to recommend the services of a therapist.
Arnold nodded without saying a word. He saw himself in that little girl. The difference was he hadn't been mentally disturbed like her.
He remembered how the world had changed, and life became a bit miserable after his dad's death.
It was Arnold's seventh birthday. Daniella had made preparations for everything, and even Newton was to fly from Japan since he wanted to be present for his child's birthday.
He also wanted to make it up for him for the other times he hadn't been present. Arnold was beyond thrilled by the presence of his father that he couldn't stop going out of the house every now and again to confirm if he had arrived.
He was dressed, and the small family party was almost beginning. They just needed Newton to get there, and he hadn't.
Two hours, three hours later, and four hours later, there was no word from him.
Daniella called him, but the call went straight to voicemail. She felt afraid, but when Arnold had looked at her, she tried maintaining a look of calm.
"Mommy. Daddy will not come. I think they called him back for work," Arnold said when he got tired of waiting. He wanted to eat the cake and the icing.
"He will be here. He promised," Daniella had answered.
Then they heard a knock on the door, and Arnold jumped in joy, thinking it was finally Newton but alas.
At the door stood Daniella's friend Olivia Sanders.
"Hey, Olivia," Daniella said as they hugged.
"Hi. I came as soon as I could after hearing the news. Sorry," Olivia said, walking into the room.
"Which news and what are you sorry about?" Daniella had asked, confused.
"The news. Am really so sorry," Olivia had said. In her mind, she thought that Daniella was simply in denial. However, Daniella hadn't even heard the news, so she didn't know what Olivia was talking about.
Olivia walked into the room, and Arnold was sited in some corner, looking nowhere exactly.
"It will all be fine," Olivia said reassuringly.
"I don't understand what you're talking about?" Daniella asked directly.
"The news Daniella. Haven't you heard that there was a plane crash in Japan? Wasn't Newton coming from Japan?"
Plane crash. Japan. Newton. The three words kept playing on Daniella's mind.
Newton was coming from Japan, but that didn't mean he was in that crush.
He couldn't be. He was on the road, on his way home.
She rushed and switched on the TV, and the news about the crash was still being broadcast.
Did she see the name of the plane, wasn't that the one Newton always boarded? He had sent her a photo of his ticket as a confirmation that he was really coming.
Arnold was right beside her at that time, and the two crossed their fingers, hoping that Olivia was just blubbing.
Then Daniella's entire world collapsed before her when she saw the footnotes below the coverage.
Newton's name was there. She screamed and started wailing, and Olivia was beside her in no time, comforting her.
At seven, Arnold had not yet understood the final impact of death. He had heard it but not known what it really meant.
Life was dealing him a cruel blow when he now had to experience it from the death of a close family.
He was lucky they had Olivia because Daniella had become so dumb to do anything. It was all because of Olivia's initiative that even Newton's ashes were buried.
~
"When will we get in touch with the therapist?"Arnold asked Mercy.
"I don't know Arnold. Do you really think she is reacting to an incident at the children's home? Why is it only her? It doesn't make any sense," Mercy whispered back.
Arnold turned to look at Carina, who was sighted at the back of the car. She was so peaceful, looking out through the window and admiring nature.
"It doesn't, but she might talk to someone else. She won't talk to either of us, so?" Arnold said, shrugging.
What Arnold had been too blind to see was that Carina was only comfortable in his presence. She became tense anytime Mercy was around.
Maybe, Arnold had also realized that but only thought the fear was because of Mercy's authority. The truth of the matter was, Mercy wasn't whom he thought she was.