Chapter 185


    “Elysial” Her eyes reddened with unshed tears as she said, “He’s in a bad ce right now! A very bad


    ce!”


    Tarquin held his breath, trying to quell the storm rising within him. “What’s wrong


    with him?”


    “He has no light inside him. No water, no life, and nothing positive or uplifting. Just an endless fog and


    swirling dust. He’s lying in a deste wastnd, battered and barely hanging on… He’s not going to


    make it.”


    Tarquin’s head buzzed as though struck by a gong. “What do you mean, hot going to make it? Be clear”


    in his mind, he’s not going to make it. When he can’t hold on any longer, in reality… he will…


    “He will what?”


    “He will die!”


    Tarquin gasped, the words hitting him like a ton of bricks.


    Elysia continued, “When he loses the will to live and the belief in his spirit, he will lose the desire to


    continue in reality. He’ll find any way to end it all, and that’s often the oue for children with severe


    psychological issues.”


    “It can’t be! I told him I had found his birth mother. Shouldn’t he be excited and looking forward to it?


    Why would he still be so injured?”


    “You told him you found his mother?”


    “Yes.


    “He might not believe you, knowing you lied. Or maybe deep down, he feels that as long as his mother


    isn’t back, she’s not really found, and the search must go on to solve his current predicament. Only


    bringing his mother back might change that ”


    Terquin was silent.


    The room stayed quiet until an rm broke the silence from outside.


    It was 6:30 am, Elijah’s time to wake up, but he remained asleep


    Elysia exined, “I had to hypnotize him earlier, so he needs to sleep a bit longer.”


    Tarquin said nothing.


    Elysia wasn’t sure what else to say. Elijah had been keeping her at arm’s length, preventing her from


    offering him any psychological counseling, Mental illness wasn’t something that could be cured with


    medication alone.


    After a whi


    upsetting him when he wakes.”


    a while, sensing that Elijah would soon awaken, Elysia stood to leave. “I should go, to avoid upset


    Tarquin nced at Elijah and followed Elysia out of the room.


    “You don’t need to escort me,” she said as he approached the door.


    Tarquin didn’t reply, only grabbing a child’s scarf from a hook near the door and tossing it to her.


    It was soft and adorned with cartoon monsters-


    Cijah’s


    Elysia was taken aback. “You called me here just to giveme T


    Tarquin didn’t speak, closing the door behind him, heading downstairs.


    After a moment’s hesitation, Elysia followed.


    Tarquin was still at the same spot, lighting a cigarette, taking puffs in silence


    Elysia looked at him, feeling a twinge of pity. Perhaps as a parent herself, she understood what it was


    like when a child was in trouble.


    But there was little she could do to help. She offered her final advice, “If Elijah shows any strange


    behavior when he wakes up, call me. If he bes extremely agitated, give him the medication I


    provided earlier. Try to avoid gedatives. It’s harmful for kids”


    Tarquin continued to smoke, his face a mask of stoicism


    Elysia left with the scarf, but as she reached themer, she couldn’t resist looking back.


    In the cold, snowyndscape, the man stood alone against the whiteness, cigarette smoke curling


    around his furrowed brow, a picture of destion.


    If his demeanor had been less stem, the image would have been one of utter heartbreak.


    Elysia pursed her lips, her feelings a tangled knot. She didn’t wish him well, so sympathy wasn’t quite


    night, but she couldn’t muster any joy at his plight either.