Chapter 2

A gut-wrenching scream broke through the silence of the night. Wilma and Gregory were instantly out of bed and rushing to AJ's room. Both of them ran into the room and rushed to his bed. AJ's eyes were wide open but unfocused. The boy was hyperventilating, sweating profusely as his body trembled. Suddenly, he lashed out, flailing his limbs. Gregory knew he had to step in; otherwise, AJ may hurt himself or his grandparents.

Gregory grabbed AJ's flailing arms and crisscrossed them across his chest. Even though the boy couldn't hear them, Gregory and Wilma whispered comforting words to the boy. Fifteen minutes later, the night terror stopped, and AJ's eyes closed. Gregory let go of the boy's arms and stood by Wilma. The elderly woman bent down and kissed AJ's forehead before going back to bed with her husband. Unfortunately, the peaceful silence wouldn't last long.

A few hours later, AJ tossed and turned. His breathing picked up, and his hands clenched his sheets as nightmares haunted him. He was covered in sweat as he began crying out. Suddenly, he shot up screaming. He thrashed his limbs as he struggled to untangle himself from his sheets. In his struggle, he fell out of his bed. He quickly scooted back into the corner and curled up, protectively wrapping his arms around himself.

"No, no, no, no, no," he cried.

The door swung open, and in ran Gregory and Wilma once again. Gregory ran to the boy's side as Wilma flipped on the lights. AJ screamed and thrashed as Gregory wrapped him in his arms. The man began rocking the teen as he tried to speak comforting words to him. Eventually, the soothing words reached AJ's ears, and his screaming stopped. He lay disoriented, shaky, and sweaty in his grandfather's arms as his head throbbed.

"I'm gonna go run him a bath," Wilma said before walking out of the bedroom.

"Hey," Gregory said softly to the boy, "do you wanna bath? It'll help you feel better."

AJ nodded and stood up with the help of his grandfather. The two walked into the bathroom where Wilma had just turned off the water.

"Hey, honey," Wilma said as Gregory and AJ walked in, "come here."

AJ slowly walked over to his grandmother. Wilma sat her grandson on top of the toilet and began to undress him. The boy was still very disoriented as Wilma stood him up and guided him into the tub. He curled up and rested his head on his knees as he sat in the water. He sat there, staring blankly as his grandmother washed his hair. She let him wash his own body before rinsing him off and helping him out of the tub. She dried him off and dressed him in a new pair of pajamas.

"Come on, honey," Wilma said.

She led the boy into her and Gregory's room and over to a mattress on the floor. The couple always kept a mattress on the floor with sheets and blankets for the boy. On top of the bed was his teddy bear.

"I found that under your bed," Gregory said as he climbed back into bed, smiling at the boy.

Wilma tucked the boy in and sat by him until his eyes closed. This time, the boy slept peacefully, and everyone could sleep throughout the rest of the night with no interruptions.

AJ was woken up the following day by Wilma gently shaking his shoulder.

"Hey, sweetie," she said, "let's get up and get ready. Dr. Nicole is coming over today."

AJ groaned. He didn't want to work today with his therapist. He just wanted to sleep all day. Last night had exhausted him, and he just didn't feel like doing anything that day.

"Anthony John," Wilma said sternly, "come on."

AJ moaned as he sat up, his hair wild. Wilma handed him his medication along with a glass of water. After he swallowed the medicine, Wilma helped him stand up, and she led him to his room. She helped him get dressed in a black shirt, a white jacket, and dark blue jeans. After being dressed, Wilma led him to the kitchen, where he had oatmeal for breakfast. After that, the older woman helped the teen brush his teeth and his hair. Now, AJ sat in the corner of the family room, curled up with his teddy bear.

"AJ," Wilma said as she approached him, remember what Dr.Nicole said last time?"

The boy rolled his eyes. Wilma sighed and continued speaking.

"She said to try not to sit in the corner so much. Come on, let's sit on the couch."

He grunted and jerked away from her grasp as she touched his shoulder.

"Oh, stop it," she said.

She reached for him again, but he grunted and jerked away for a second time. She tried a third time again. AJ screamed angrily and jumped away as he began pulling his hair.

"Hey," Wilma said, bending down, grabbing his hands, "what is the matter?"

AJ looked at her, tears streaming down his face. He pulled his hand away from hers and rubbed his eyes.

"You tired," the woman asked sweetly.

More tears streamed down AJ's face as he nodded.

"Oh honey," she soothed, wiping tears from the crying boy's face, "you can nap before Dr. Nicole gets here, okay?"

AJ nodded as he sniffed harshly. When Wilma reached for him again, he allowed her to help him stand up. AJ curled up as he laid down on the couch. The boy slept for about an hour until the doorbell sound woke him up. He sighed as he sat up, crisscrossing his legs. Wilma opened the door.

"Dr. Nicole," she chirped, "please come in!"

Dr. Nicole walked into the house, a woman about 5'10 with short black hair and green eyes.

"Let me go get Gregory," Wilma said before quickly getting her husband from the backyard.

"Hello AJ," she said, "how have you been since last time?"

AJ ignored the woman as his grandparents returned.

"Hello, Ms. Nicole," Gregory greeted.

Nicole returned the greeting before everyone took a seat, beginning the session. Knowing AJ wouldn't verbally respond, Nicole usually asked his grandparents the questions.

"So," she began, "last time I wanted AJ to work on not sitting in the corner so much. How's that going?"

"He's been doing okay," Gregory answered, "for the past few days, he's only been doing it when he has a panic attack."

Nicole nodded as she took notes on her notepad.

"Okay," she said, "now how about the hairpulling? I know we've been working on that the past few sessions."

"He's still pulling his hair," Wilma responded.

Nicole nodded. After asking a few more questions, she clicked her pen and put away her notepad.

"Alrighty," she began, "since he's still doing the hair pulling, I recommend taking him to the store to buy a hat. Have him wear the hat throughout the day.

"But," Wilma said with concern, "let's say as he's wearing the hat, he has a panic attack or gets frustrated and goes to pull his hair. What if he realizes that he's not able to and starts hitting himself?"

"Just keep doing what you've been doing, what you've been doing," Nicole answered, "gently grab his hands and try and calm him down. If he continues to hit himself, that's when you get behind him and cross his arms over his chest while hugging him. I know it'll make him angrier, but we can't have him hurting himself. Alright?"

The couple nodded.

"Now," Nicole continued, "what I want to work on with AJ today is verbal communication. How about we move to the kitchen table, so we have room to work?"

Nicole stood up along with Wilma and Gregory. AJ, however, stayed seated on the couch, staring blankly ahead.

"AJ," Wilma asked.

AJ flinched as the woman touched his shoulder.

"Come on," she continued, "we're going to the table."

She gently grabbed his arm and helped him stand up. As AJ sat down at the table, there were ten flashcards with words written on them. Words such as stop, please, grandma, grandpa, hungry, thirsty, tired, and scared were placed in columns on the table.

"Alrighty, AJ," Dr. Nicole said, getting out a pointer from her bag, "I'm going to a point to a word, and I want you to take your time with it. Okay?"

AJ nodded hesitantly, and Dr. Nicole pointed to the first word, Grandma. AJ opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it and turned to the side. Everybody could tell that the boy wanted to talk. He indeed did but was too afraid.

"AJ," Wilma said comfortingly, "it's okay. We're all here. Just try and read the word, okay?"

AJ looked at his grandmother, and she gave him a reassuring smile. AJ faced the table again and looked at the flashcard on the table. He gulped and opened his mouth.

"G...G...Gr...Gran...n..d..m...a."

His voice was deep but had a childlike tone to it as well. He would've sounded very mature if it weren't for the trauma. Dr. Nicole praised him after he spoke. She pointed to the next word. Grandpa. AJ slowly stuttered out that word as well.

"Gr...a...n...d..p...p..a."

The elderly couple nearly cried tears of joy. They hadn't heard those names in years. The couple hugged and kissed the boy. After the happy moment, Dr. Nicole continued going down the list of words as AJ slowly said them. After about an hour, Dr. Nicole went through the terms three times with the boy. She put away her pointer and set the flashcards in a stack.

"I'm going to have you guys keep these," she said to Wilma and Gregory, "and I want you to work with him on these words for at least an hour every day until our next session."

"Sounds good! Will do," Gregory said.

The elderly couple and the doctor stood up and shook hands before Dr. Nicole made her way to the door and left. The couple watched as the young doctor made her way back into the house to her car. A sniffling sound made them turn around. Still, AJ was staring at the stack of flashcards at the kitchen table, tears streaming down his face. He rocked and forth as his body trembled. The couple ran to his side. He was having another flashback.

Wilma and Gregory's calls went unheard by AJ as he was stuck in his flashback.

Nine-year-old AJ sat in the family room of his home with his parents. He had just gotten a brand new lego set and was working on it as his parents sat on the couch watching tv. The leaves rustled outside, but there was no wind. The family didn't think anything of it, thinking it was probably a squirrel running through the branches. A loud banging sound at the door made everyone jump. AJ's father reached in between the couch cushions to retrieve his pistol.

"Lexi," the man said, "take our son and hide."

"But, Nick-," Lexi cried.

"Now, Lexi," Nick interrupted, "take our son and hide!"

Lexi scooped up little AJ and ran to the hallway where there was a string. Lexi pulled the rope, and out came a ladder.

"Climb, AJ," Lexi said as she put down her son.

AJ obediently climbed. Once up in the attic, Lexi took her son to a pile of boxes. She pulled out the largest and told AJ to get in. Once her son was inside the box, the scared mother tried to blend the boxes so whoever was trying to get into their house wouldn't think to look at them. The sound of the door breaking down and gunfire made little AJ hold his breath. He heard his father shouting at the intruder. Then there was a loud commotion and the sound of his father groaning. The sound of the attic door opening made AJ tense. He heard his mother scream.

"Please don't hurt me," she cried out.

The intruder threw her out of the attic and dragged her to the family room where her husband was. AJ climbed out of his hiding spot and squatted down to see what was happening. He saw the intruder put a gun to his father's head and pull the trigger. Lexi screamed and pleaded to be let go. The intruder put the gun to her head. Her final pleas were cut off as the trigger was pulled. AJ went to sit back on the floor, but it creaked. His heart sank. He heard footsteps getting closer and closer. His eyes widened in fear as the intruder returned to the attack and looked right at him.

"Found you," the man said in a harsh voice.

AJ screamed as the man grabbed him and took him to the family room where his dead parents were. The man dropped the screaming boy and pointed the gun at him.

"No! No," the little boy screamed.

The man smiled at the little boy before pulling the trigger.

AJ let out a gut-wrenching scream as the flashback was ending.

"No! No," AJ screamed.

He was on the ground, and someone was holding him. He screamed and thrashed to get away.

"AJ, hey, hey, hey," the voice of Gregory finally reached AJ's ears.

His screams stopped, and his limbs calmed. He lay sweaty and trembling in his grandfather's arms. AJ looked over at his grandmother, who was on the phone. She hung up and rushed to his side.

"Dr. Nicole is coming back, okay," she said to him.

AJ blinked at her and continued to tremble, just wanting everything to be okay again. AJ continued staring at Wilma as she ran her thumb across his cheek. His heart rate and breathing quickened as his eyes widened. His vision went blurry as he relived the final moments of the attack.

The man smiled at the little boy before pulling the trigger. Nothing happened; the gun was jammed. The gunman cursed as sirens grew closer. The man ran towards the attic.

"Say anything, I'll kill you," he said with malice.

The man closed the attic doors as officers ran in. They cursed at the sight they saw.

"Hey, buddy," one said gently, "My name is Adam. You're okay, come with us."

The officers noticed the little boy kept looking at the closed attic. Adam nodded towards the officers, and they began to surround the attic. Adam scooped up the little boy and carried him out of the house just as the place erupted in commotion.

"I'll kill you," a scream erupted.

Officers dragged out the man, and he screamed at AJ, "When I get out, I'll kill you!"

The man's screams were muffled as he was placed in a police car. Little AJ began screaming as the shock wore off. Officers tried to console him, but he was inconsolable. The little boy screamed until everything went black.

"AJ," Wilma shouted when her grandson's eyes rolled to the back of his head.

Just as he lost consciousness, there was a knock at the door. Wilma opened the door to Dr. Nicole and quickly ushered the woman inside.

"This was one of his worst ones. If not the worst episode he's had," she said as the two walked over to the limp boy.

Gregory continued to hold the boy as the women sat down.

"How long was this one," the doctor asked.

"We called you moments after it began," Gregory answered, "so seven to ten minutes."

As Dr. Nicole nodded, AJ began to stir. His eyes widened as they opened.

"Here," Dr. Nicole said as she grabbed the boy's hands and pulled him to a sitting position with the help of Gregory.

"AJ," Dr. Nicole spoke, taking AJ's face into her hands and making him look at her, "I need you to talk to me. Tell me what's going on."

"S...S...Sc...Sca...a..red," AJ hiccuped.

"Of what," Dr. Nicole asked soothingly.

AJ hiccupped harshly before responding.

"O...o....of b...b...a..d man."

"AJ," Dr. Nicole said firmly, "look around. Your grandparents are here, I'm here. We promise we won't let anything happen to you, okay?"

She softly smiled at the boy as he nodded.

"Okay then," she said, "now, breathe with me."

The doctor did a breathing exercise with the boy to even out his breathing. When his breathing evened out, he turned toward his grandmother.

"T..t..t..tired," he said.

"Okay, honey," Wilma responded, "let's go lay down."

The three adults helped the boy stand up. The elderly woman led him to his room when he was on his feet. Once he was asleep, Wilma closed the door and returned to the kitchen, where Gregory made the three adults a cup of coffee.

"Is it okay if I make a recommendation," Dr. Nicole spoke up.

"Of course," Wilma nodded.

"Now, the two of you have been taking great care of AJ. However, I've noticed all three of you have been getting very little sleep, AJ's panic attacks are getting worse, and his flashbacks are becoming more frequent. If it's okay with you, I would like AJ admitted to the Michigan State Mental Health Institution. There, he will get to meet with me every day, he will be able to interact with other patients, and we will have his day lined up for him to help him become stable enough to go back outside and possibly to school."

"Will we get to visit him," Gregory asked.

"Of course," the doctor responded.

The couple looked at each other.

"May we think about it," Wilma asked.

Dr. Nicole nodded.

"Take all the time you need."

She looked at her watch.

"Oh, I need to get going."

The adults stood up and thanked each other. Dr. Nicole was out the door once again. The elderly couple stood there thinking about the decision they should make as AJ slept soundly in his room. The rest of the day, AJ was exhausted and clingy. After he woke up from his nap, he clung to his grandmother. Wilma tried to pry the boy off of her a few times, but this only made him cry. Putting the boy to bed in the evening was even more difficult. Tears were shed as Wilma left his bedroom after tucking him in. After an hour, the boy cried out, and exhaustion dragged him into a dreamless sleep.