Someday Soon, With You

Chapter 49

“Her CT scans are clean. We didn’t find any indication of a tumor. But I suggest we have her subjected to therapy. Do you see this part” the doctor asked Aro pointing something to the chart he’s holding.

“The nut part?” he asked.

“Yes, the almond shape part. It’s called amygdala. It still in its normal size. But a little larger, and it will be big for her age. This is the part of the brain that deals with emotion. I can tell she’s gone major changes in her life” the doctor continued explaining.

“Yes, but are you sure there’s no tumor? Her mother, she died of brain tumor. I can’t—” Aro paused and looked at her daughter playing with one of the nurses. “She’s too young. I can’t lose her too” he said trying not break down. Now he finally understood a part of what his mother went through.

“A brain tumor is more prevalent with children aged five to eight years old. She’s in that age bracket and as you said, she has history. But since we see her charts clean, she’s physically healthy” the doctor said. “But we can’t be too complacent about it. Too much stress is never good for children. Or anyone, I should add”

“What about her loss of memory? I don’t think she fell somewhere. She’s a very well-behaved child and she doesn’t like getting hurt” Aro continued asking.

“Yes. I see her chart doesn’t indicate any injury as well. Since I’ve told you about the part of the brain that’s already reached its regular size, it might be an indication of an emotional trauma. Which leads to my diagnosis, that to cope up for this trauma, or stress, she created a coping mechanism called selective amnesia. Or dissociative amnesia. Based on what you told me so far, all her memories from when you were living abroad were erased, is that correct?” the doctor asked. He nodded. “There’re different ways to treat selective amnesia, like medication, hypnotism and in some aggressive cases, there are therapies that include the use of radiation”

“No” he quickly interrupted. “No radiation whatsoever” he firmly said.

“Of course. Your daughter seemed to be physically healthy, she’s still young so I suggest we start her treatment with behavioral therapy”

“Behavioral therapy?” he asked with tone slightly annoyed.

“I know your daughter is well-behaved, sir. I can see that. The therapy I’m talking about is not what you think. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy will help her manage her anxiety, her way of thinking and possibly, hopefully her way of accepting changes on her environment. I also want her to get through this as safe as possible, physically”

Aro nodded. He looked again at his daughter who just turned and looked at him. Ara smiled at him and waved. He waved back, smiling. “Okay, let’s do that” he told the doctor. The doctor nodded.

“Daddy, what did we do there? Are you sick?” Ara asked. They were walking out of the clinic, Aro carrying her.

He chuckled. “Why did you think I’m sick?” he asked.

“Because” she started but didn’t continue.

“Because?” he asked again, smiling.

“I was just playing the whole time. And you’re talking to the doctor. And you look sad, daddy” she said talking faster than usual. “Are you sick, daddy?” she asked. And then Aro saw his daughter’s eyes fill with tears and worry. Her breathing’s starting to get uneven. Her shoulder’s shaking.

“No, no” he quickly answered. “Daddy’s not sick” he said trying to calm her down. Her mother’s sickness might have affected her more than she’s letting on. “Baby, daddy’s not sick. I just asked the doctor about your fever” he told her.

“Really?” she said starting to calm down. “And?” she asked like a grown up.

He smiled sadly. “They told me it’s because we didn’t have a tea party on my birthday” he told her.

“Really? Is it because I fell asleep?” she asked again. She’s calmed down but she still looked worried.

“Because Daddy came home late” he answered while opening the car door. “And you know what the doctor said?” he asked as soon as they were both inside.

“What?” Ara asked.

“They said daddy’s also getting a fever” he told Ara. Ara kneeled at her seat and put her arms around Aro’s shoulder. “So, in order for daddy not to get sick, they told me to have tea parties” he added.

“Really?” Ara asked still worried.

“Hmm” Aro said while nodding. “The doctor told me to have tea parties with the most beautiful and best person I know. So, I will not have fever anymore” he said.

“Really?” Ara asked again, this time a smile is forming on her face.

“So, since you bake cupcakes for daddy, do you think you can host me a tea party?” he asked smiling at her. “Maybe I shouldn’t ask you though, since you just had your fever. I don’t like you getting tired” he added faking a disappointed sigh. “Should I just ask someone else?” he continued.

Ara giggled. “No way!” she shouted. “I am the best host for tea parties!” she said. “Mama Dolly also taught me to make the best tea!” she said so hyper. Aro laughed. This is how his daughter used to be. Always shouting, always sulking when Mira’s saying something to tease her. He smiled sadly and he didn’t realize tears fell down his eyes. “Daddy” Ara called him starting to get worried again.

“Oh” he said wiping his tears. “The doctor said, I get emotional because I don’t go to the tea parties anymore” he said. “And you know what else she told me?” he asked.

“What?” Ara asked a little softly.

“She told me I need to attend seven tea parties. Do you think that’s possible?” he asked. Ara smiled widely and nodded. “But I don’t want my baby to be so tired”

“I’m not tired!” Ara shouted again.

“But it will be seven days, I can ask for six others to host the party” he offered.

“I’m not tired!” she repeated making him laugh.

“Okay. So maybe we need to go shopping. Is there anything you need? Cupcakes? Oh, maybe we can buy some small tables and chairs” he excitedly said.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she shouted and jumped up and down to her seat before Aro settled her down and put her seatbelt.

“How was your check up? What did the doctor say?” Dolores asked as Aro tucked his daughter in bed.

She fell asleep after a long day of playing with him. Aro stroked Ara’s head, staring at her peacefully sleeping. He told Dolores everything the doctor said. “We’ll have her under therapy sessions” he said. “I will ask my department to lessen my workload, or I will resign” he added. He felt Dolores’ arms around him. He sniffed. He felt the tears flow down his cheeks. “I can’t lose her, mom. She’s so young, and so—”

“Much life ahead of her” Dolores cut him. He looked at Dolores also wiping her tears. “I know. That’s how I’ve felt when I thought I lost you forever” she said.

“I can’t” he said hugging his mom. He felt himself sobbing on her shoulders. “Maybe this is my punishment for being so selfish”

“No, it's not” his mother said. “You're never selfish” while rubbing his back.

“I will not lose her” he said looking at Ara. He’s so busy about adjusting their life back in his old home that he forgot how much his daughter might be struggling.