276 Thenatophobia

"Ria,you had me worried last night. What happened?" Autumn couldn't wait to hug her little sister and care for her.

"I don't know what happened,I just felt the urge to run",she lied.

"Your ankle is dead swollen." Jake said gazing at her extremely swollen ankle.

"Gosh Ria,how did this happened? We need to go to the clinic now."

"No Autumn I'm fine,maybe it's from running last night. I'm sure a little massage will cure it in no time."

"You look pale Ria,we need to visit the hospital."

"I'm fine." Aria said like she was assuring her sister.

"Why did you run off last night?"

"Umm-umm"

Aria couldn't talk in front of Jake,she was shy that he would tell people about her problems.

He noticed her uneasiness and asked to be excuse to allow the girls talk in private.

"Umm-umm? Say something Ria."

" I have Thenatophobia."

"What is that?"

"It's the fear of loosing someone one I love."

"For how long?"

"Since two years,doctors said it was triggered by the lost of mommy and siblings,but mom mostly."

"Do you always run like that when it triggers?"

"Some times, when I'm having episodes it's like I hear imaginary voices in my ear and I just do what I am told, inorder to get rid of the feelings. I don't always run,some times I scream my lungs out."

"Oh Ria,your father knows?" Autumn asked trying to hold in her tears, she felt like the worse big sister on earth. Her sister was facing lots of trauma while she she stuck herself in hatred; hatred for her father.

"Autumn, he's your father too. Don't act like that after all these years, he's dying to hear from you. If there's one thing we learnt from mommy is forgiveness, please Autumn,let daddy in."

"I can't Ria, I've tried but I just can't. I hate him still but he's not the subject of discussion now.

"Besides me, he's the only person who knows. I was treated and I attended therapy sessions as well,I thought it was gone but it's like---"