Chapter 124
This Mia was completely different from the confident, lively girl they’d met yesterday. Such a dramatic change in just one day.
“Could something have triggered this?” Jane asked quietly.
Sarah watched Mia worriedly. “Yesterday when she saw my burned leg at home, she became like this. She was even more agitated
then. She was terrified of everything, and it took tremendous effort to get her to sleep.”
“I think I understand. She must have been injured before. These are trauma responses, likely more psychological than physical.
Past trauma being triggered, making her relive that environment and unable to escape it,” Jane explained thoughtfully.
But Sarah had a different concern. “If she’s trapped in that past environment, shouldn’t she be afraid of everything unfamiliar?
Even with her brother, she shows some fear. But with me, she shows complete trust and dependency, even though we’ve only
known each other briefly.”
She meant that Mia’s trust and dependence on her didn’t make sense.
Jane frowned, thinking deeply. “Perhaps you’re too focused on what trauma she experienced. The reality is, everyone with
psychological issues presents different symptoms, and their perception of time and space can be distorted.”
Sarah suddenly understood. “I see what you mean.”
She’d been puzzling over this for days, but had forgotten that people with psychological disorders often experience time
differently from reality, their perceptions becoming confused.
Mia’s trust and dependence on her might be unconscious. In her extremely confused mental state, she might be forcing two different time periods together, pulling the current “Sarah” back into that past time.
“However, given how severe her condition is, treatment will likely take considerable time. I recommend combining medication
with psychological intervention, including occasional guided exposure. Try to help her understand she’s safe now, bring her back
to the present.”
“I will.”
Jane glanced at her hand. “I noticed you’re limping. Let me drive you home later.”
Sarah nodded, looking worriedly at Mia, who was hunched over her coffee cup, continuously adding sugar with a spoon.
“Mia, that’s too much sugar.”
But Mia didn’t respond, stubbornly continuing to add sugar spoonful by spoonful. Her hands started shaking, spilling sugar
everywhere.
“Mia?” Sarah tensed.
She hadn’t told Zachary she was bringing Mia out, and she didn’t have the pocket watch with her.
1/2
+20 Bonus
Jane also grew nervous. She tried to keep her voice as gentle as possible, telling Mia, “Mia, you’re safe now, nothing bad will
happen…”
As Jane’s voice grew softer, Mia’s hands steadied slightly. Then she suddenly threw the spoon aside violently. “Sarah! Bad people!
It’s not safe! They’re trying to kill us!”
