CHAPTER FIFTY TWO: SILENCE

Mom and 'Dad' drove back home that day, without me. Doctor Brown assured them that I was safe with him, and they could come collect me in four days' time if I got better, and if I didn't, he'd have to take me to a mental hospital, specifically the vocational rehabilitation center there. He was going to admit me so that he could keep close watch on me, so he incorporated psychotherapy, hospital community support, and medication, that he promised would probably work for me. He also placed me on neuroleptics for three days and also made me engage in brain-stimulating activities, with him, and sometimes with three nurses. The nurses were very friendly as well. Their smiles were to die for. If only kindness healed disorders. If only they'd understand that I really didn't have schizophrenia, maybe they'd know that I didn't need psychopharmacology. What I needed was Robin. I tried telling Dr Brown about this on my second day in the ward, but he responded with, "I might have to increase your dosage, or perhaps we do more talk therapy, Ariana" He also thought I was crazy. It hurt that everyone thought I was crazy when I was not. Dr Brown did not increase my dosage. But he made me use my medications in time. There were three supporting nurses alongside him. He assigned them the task of watching over me. In my ward, they'd tell me many stories and make me laugh. They'd ask me questions about how I was feeling, they sometimes brought me a paper, brush and palette and ask me to paint whatever came to my mind. Their talking and my painting helped a lot. The medications controlled my heart palpitations too. But I was certain none of these would stop Gregory from coming. I decided that I'd stall time in the hospital however, until I was sure Robin was done fighting the war. I hoped he'd stay alive. I hoped he wouldn't lose his ability to teleport to my place. He did say he could lose it. I did not stop calling him, only whenever i was alone in the ward of course, so the people would not think I was getting worse. I'd ask him to please visit me, even if it was to say goodbye. I was that desperate. I started to get really attached to the three nurses. Their names were Sonia, Angela and Charlotte. I got attached to them because I imagined them to be Elaine, Prisca and Jido-- my beautiful maid- friends back in Were castle. I wanted badly to call Miranda and ask her to come fetch me from the hospital. This was on those moments the anxious feeling seeped in me and zapped me of every energy I had garnered from resting all day, and taking nourishing foods and fruits. Robin, Prince Robinson Long Sword of Were-castle had warned me about relating with Miranda, because according to him, she was likely to persuade me into an agreement with Mash, who was likely to be a black wizard. He didn't want me to end up in a bad place. So I thought, I could disobey him so that he'd have to come to me. I thought that should work. I was not going to talk about Mash with her or let her talk about him. I was going to let her know I didn't want to have anything to do with a stranger. All I needed her for, was company and maybe a girls' day out. So, right there and then, I dialled her number. She didn't answer it but surprisingly, she called back almost immediately. She announced to me her plan of coming over to my place with three more friends. "I made three friends at granny's. They're very wonderful, I tell you. I'm visiting you next week if it's okay by your parents. Please inform them now" I didn't tell her I was not feeling well. Her announcement had lifted my mood. She was coming, not alone, but with friends. For the first time in my life, I was going to have a girls' day. Mom had to support this, she's got no choice. Cameron too. Or I was going to cry. I informed my parents as soon as they came visiting on the fourth day. They told me it was fine if it was going to make me happy. Excited was an understatement for how I felt after they agreed to my wish. "She responded to treatment. You can take her home tomorrow, but she has to come here for therapy by 1pm everyday. One more thing, please make sure she takes her medications duely" he told them. So, they left. They were to come back for me the next morning. Robin still hadn't answered me. *********************************************************** Early next morning, of the fifth day, around 4am in the midnight, I woke up with an uncomfortable feeling. It started like a lump in my throat that wouldn't go away. And then when my phone rang, and Miranda asked me over the phone if I had informed my parents of her visit yet, I couldn't respond. I tried to open my mouth but no words escaped them. "Hello?" She called. "Ariana, are you there? Hello?" But I could not speak! My tongue was tied. What had started as a lump in my throat had grown into dumbness. I was in for it. I hanged up immediately and texted her. She replied immediately with so much excitement. I lied to her that I couldn't hear her over the phone. When Dr Brown came over, I smiled at him and tried to hide the fact that I grew dumb overnight. I didn't want to remain in the hospital anymore. My parents came to fetch me that same day, and so, no one knew I was dumb because I pretended to feel sleepy in the car, and I did that throughout the journey back home. Mom was the first person to find out. She came to my room to ask what I'd like to eat for breakfast but when she saw that I opened my mouth and struggled to talk, she screamed and ran out of the house. That scared me but it'd probably be my reaction as well, if she was in my shoes. I was so angry with myself because I thought my plan with Miranda would be totally ruined. "Help me!! Lord help! My daughter is dumb! Cameron!!" Mom screamed and cried, while trying to dial Cameron's number. He had left the house in his car immediately he brought us in. "Get up, my dear. We're taking you back to the hospital. Please get up!" Mom nudged my shoulder and i obeyed. She was panicking. It roused the attention of Mike, because he rushed in , and asked if everything was all right. "I'm in trouble, Mike. My daughter is dumb!" she cried, and I wished I could say a word. Mike talked to me but I couldn't respond as well. It was very strange. My thought was that Gregory's spirit made me dumb so that when he came to suffocate me, I'd not be able to scream. Maybe that wasn't it anyway. Or maybe it was. Just maybe. "Selective mutism" Dr Brown announced. "My office reminds her of her hallucinations. When I asked you out on her first day here, so that I could talk to her, she displayed some delusions. Taking her back to her room also reminded her of her experience with her hallucinations and delusions. All she needs is a change of environment, and she'll be able to speak again. She's in partial shock right now, but it's not a very big deal" he said. So, mom and Mike took me to an amusement park first, and secretly, while I was having fun with Mike, mom called Miranda's family and explained my situation to them. Luckily, they were very understanding. Of course, Miranda had no father anymore. She lived with her mother and brother. Her mother was a strict woman, or maybe she was only strict on her daughter, for her strange déjà Vu experiences, because she talked so kindly on phone and even agreed to accept me into their house. She said she had always wanted a second daughter, and a friend like a sister, for her daughter, Miranda. She had heard many good things about me from Miranda. She said mom could bring me over. She understood that I needed a change of environment. So, instead of Miranda coming over, I was going to her place. Isn't God good? Without wasting time, mom informed her husband about it after he returned home. He agreed to let me go. Well, what other choice did he have? Mom packed my stuff together and the next day, I was riding to the city with mom. She insisted she'd stay with me until I talked.