INSIDE

CHAPTER 9

” I didn’t get the question, sister”. She was right. He knew just how shaken he had felt, and now he seemed really surprised, too surprised even.

“Your wife, she laughed, didn’t she”. She looked like she was expecting it.

“Officer Dan will be here in 30 minutes. Let's go for a walk”.

They walked round the entire building, but he couldn’t help but feel anxious. The woman looked like she knew more than what she was letting out, but he knew he had to be patient.

“Do you remember when you had your first session with sister Veronica?? Bless her soul”.

“I remember that sister”. It was not something he could forget. He was called in for a one on one talk on life, as she always called it and was asked what he thought of his parents. He had no reply. They didn’t find it uncommon because he hardly spoke.

“She was scared your silence would let the devil in, so she thought to see if you needed therapy. She asked for the painting to test your emotional level. Every one of the children saw an apple tree but you and your wife saw something different entirely. Lisa said she saw art and when asked what art she said I quote her ……” a woman, blood and an emotion” …… I didn’t know if that was something to be happy or worried about, but she went on to explain further that she saw a woman bent over an operation table, her eyes were missing, or maybe they were intact, but they were filled with blood, too much blood. And regarding the emotion, she saw fear. She ended that explanation with a smile, a broad smile like she had just discovered another Mount Everest. I always thought Sister Veronica would call for a crusade because of your nature, but she did just that for Lisa’s sake. She said she saw nothing in her eyes. After setting up a meeting with a doctor for her, it proved abortive, and she let the child be”.

He didn’t know how to react to that information, but he knew one thing: she had laughed that night. After calling out her father, she laughed and it was unnerving. Everything was wrong with that sudden laughter.

“You see, my dear boy, your wife is ….”. She looked like she was having trouble finding the right words. And he decided to help her out.

“Different you mean to say”.

“You could say that. Yes different”. The silence after was awkward, so that he wished he had never asked to know anything about her. Different was not the right word for this, but he would keep his promise not to judge her.

“Thank you, sister, but I would like to postpone the meeting with the officer. My apologies”.

“That is fine my boy. You are very welcome here. And I am sure he would love to have you around”.

“Thank you, sister, I will take my leave now”.

“Bless you dear child”.

She watched him walk away with heavy shoulders and felt his fear. He was still in denial that she needed help. She just prayed in her heart that he would not hurt himself in the process of self-conflict.