Pins and Needles

Huang Household

Nighttime fell on the Capital, and the luminous skyscrapers made it hard for Jenny to find a single star. She lingered where she was for a while, standing before the floor to ceiling window, watching the cheese-colored moon and feathery clouds that move about like snails. She pondered about what had happened between her and Lucas this morning, making her heave a heavy sigh. He gave her a name tonight though before he left for the academy. Perhaps the lady forgot to register her name — that was his excuse, but she could see right through him. He was hiding something, and it was for her benefit — she hoped. At least she knew the girl was alive, somehow somewhere; however, she couldn't shake off the want of seeing her savior one more time. 

Chinshih Dong.

Jenny repeatedly whispered the name with her eyes closed. She smoothed her thumb over the pendant of her necklace, trying her best to unearth and be free from the shackles of her restless emotions. Maybe once she sees the Pirate, she would finally get out of this terrible maze. Perhaps if she sees the Pirate, she would wake up from her nightmares. She tugged her fluffy robe and sauntered to her bed, tired of rummaging her brain.

She glanced at the Harry Potter manuscript on the bedside table - unpublished and written by hand by J.K. Rowling. She honestly did not like the first two books, but the meteoric rise to fame of the author forced her to bid for a copy, which she unfortunately won. She tapped the manuscript twice, thinking of ways to make use of it - she could auction it in the future or maybe put it on display. Finally, she pursed her lips at her discontent over the purchase. She pulled the drawer open and threw the manuscript inside. That's where it belongs, she thought to herself.

A soft knock on the door stole her attention, she peered and saw her mother with a tall glass of warm milk in her hands. Auntie Lala scrutinized her daughter, checking if something really is wrong with sweetie. She received a call from Madam Wan this evening, telling her to bring Jenny to a therapist. 

According to her friend, Jenny fell from her seat after Reid dropped his spoon on the floor. Everyone in the Wan Household was on pins and needles when Jenny froze in her spot for a second before quickly gathering herself. And when dinner was over, she was reticent in the corner, occasionally smiling but not really paying attention to the crowd.

Auntie Lala rubbed her sweetie's back, watching her take small sips of milk. "Mom," Jenny called out in a soft voice, her face transfixed on the glass of milk in her hands then continued, "I'm... I'm leaving for Harvard." 

The mother gasped, her hands reached for her chest. It was the right choice that she did not even the score last time when her daughter threw a tantrum, or else, Jenny would really stay in the Capital for good. Auntie Lala beamed at her daughter, proud of her sweetie's decision making.

She brushed Jenny's shoulder blades and said, "Omo, that's my child. I'm glad you're back." Jenny gulped down her milk, earning a brow of disapproval from her mother. Jenny released a soft burp too and defensively said, "It's just the two of us, Mother." Mother and daughter shared a loving smile before Auntie Lala tucked her sweetie to bed. 

Late at night, Jenny opened her eyes from the sudden weight on her chest. It was as if an invisible shadow put all its pounds on her, rendering her immobile. She wiggled her toes and fingers, yet it didn't feel like it even move a millimeter. 

She screamed, but she only heard muffled sounds coming from her. After a minute of torturing sleep paralysis, she finally gained her muscles back. She jolted from her bed, accidentally sweeping the lantern off the bedside table.

The startled nurse stationed outside her room ran inside. She saw Jenny sprawled on the carpet, and hurriedly ran to help her patient stand up, assisting her patient in sitting on the bed.

"I will lift your gown and check for bruises," the nurse said. She checked for shards, bruises, or anything that would cause her firing and thankfully, there was none.

The nurse was about to leave when Jenny grabbed her hand and pleaded with her eyes but it was too late. Auntie Lala rushed in without her robe and slippers, brushing her messy hair with her hands to fix it as she quickened her steps towards her daughter. She was startled when she heard a loud crash followed by a thud.

"Omo sweetie…" Auntie Lala toughened up and inhaled her brewing tears. The nurse left right away and called a helper to clean the mess. Auntie Lala sat on Jenny's bed, her back against the headrest, stroking her sweetie's hair while Jenny comfortably laid on her thigh.

Her mother started humming "La Vie en Rose", lulling her to sleep. Her mother's warmth served as her refuge. Her mother's touch served as her shield.

The next morning, Jenny woke up alone in her bed. She tidied her bed like she normally does, and made a start with her morning ritual: yoga.

Auntie Lala knocked on the door right on time when she finished. "Get ready, sweetie. We're meeting someone,"  her mother said. Jenny slumped on her bed. She knew where her mother would take her, and she hated to admit that she was sick.

...

Capital Therapy Clinic

The mother and daughter rode the elevator up to the VVIP floor of the clinic. When they stepped out of the lift, slight notes of lavender, frankincense, and sweet orange oil were diffused in the air, giving the visitors a calm welcome. 

A nurse ushered them towards the double doors that have a name A.Zhang engraved on it. Jenny frowned. What is this quack doing here? Is she even a licensed doctor? When the nurse opened the door, Jenny beamed when she saw a different A.Zhang sitting on the leather swivel chair. 

"I'm glad I didn't disappoint you, Jenny," Aila Zhang jokingly said. The doctor knew her sister and Jenny were the only girls in the Capital who have set their eyes on Lucas. That was why she saw the apprehension in the little girl's eyes the instant the mother and child entered the room.

Yiu Lala tightened her hold on her bag when she heard the underlying meaning behind what Dr. Aila Zhang said. She composed herself and acted civil with the doctor even when her hands were itching to push the doctor off the rooftop of the building. How dare this peasant make snide remarks in my face, Auntie Lala thought. 

Dr. Aila Zhang motioned for them to sit on the coffee-colored leather sofa in the center of the room. "I see you need some help. Do you need help, Jenny?" Dr. Aila asked in a friendly manner. If she's not wearing her white lab coat, one would think she's a long-time friend of the Huangs - which she isn't.

Jenny's lips trembled, her stomach turned in fear and trepidation, but she raised her chin, like the Mulan that she was and said, "I. Am. Having. Nightmares." She abruptly bowed after she forced out the words from her mouth. Her nails dug on the sofa; a tear was imminent if not for Auntie Lala reaching and gently holding her hand.

The doctor and patient talked for almost an hour while Auntie Lala nervously waited in another room. When the consultation was over, a nurse ushered Auntie Lala back to the doctor's office. 

"How's everything?" Auntie Lala's high-pitched voice scratched, her tension written all over her face. "Jenny has post-traumatic stress disorder which we all suspect about in the first place. Now, you don't have to worry about a thing, because it could last for a month if you are lucky, or years, when you're not."

"What about treatments?" Auntie Lala asked before Dr. Aila could continue with her diagnosis. "Jenny's doing yoga, right?" Dr. Aila looked at the nodding Jenny then continued, "We can use therapy instead of medications. I, myself, am not a big fan of chemicals, and the last thing that I want is this beautiful lady popping pills left and right. Let's stick to twice a week talk therapy, so we can walk together in your healing journey. It's not a quick solution compared to a pill; however, it is a natural and safe way."

Meanwhile, Stevenson and Cielo, hand in hand, entered the same clinic. The nurse ushered them inside a private waiting room. Cielo pulled her hand away, sheepishly smiled and said, "I'll use the bathroom." Stevenson straightened up on his seat when her hand left his hold but calmed down when he saw her point towards the bathroom. 

Just then, Auntie Lala got out of Dr. Aila Zhang's office to search for her sunglasses. She suddenly remembered placing it on the table in the waiting room. "Omo, my sunglasses. Wait." She walked towards the waiting room she used earlier; however, to her surprise, she saw her nephew Stevenson standing by the bathroom door on her way there.

Edited by Swaning