Chapter 3: The Shared-Burden

Linna: Yeah! Mom how long will the trip be?

Anna: Minimum 5 hours and maximum 8 if we go slow!

Linna: Mom, I am done! Glorina, hurry you are, turtle! Hee-hee!

Anna: Glorina is a turtle! So, you are a rabbit!

Linna: No, no! I am an adorable bunny!

Glorina: Hee-hee yes, you are little bunny! You will roam and wander around in your grandpas' fields and wilderness over there!

Linna: Oh mom! Is it that green? Yes, I hope so it has not changed a bit!

Cell Phone ringing

Dad: Hello, Love! Glorina, are you on your way to grandpa?

Glorina: No, dad we just finished lunch and will leave in a few minutes!

Dad: Alright! Where is your mom? Put her on, please!

Glorina: Alright! Mom, dad wants to talk! Where are you mom! Oh there!

Here mom!

Anna: Who is on the . . . Jason! How are you, love? Doing well, hopefully! How is the seminar going?

Jason: Its good! I am doing great! Are you doing well, and have you taken your anti-depressant?

Anna: Yes, but I think . . . There is some sort of side effect!

Jason: What sort of side-effects?

Anna: I seem to imagine things happening! I don’t know, I am sure I didn’t imagine it!

Jason: I am all ears . . . Anna!

Anna: hmm . . .

Jason: Don’t worry, go on . . .!

Anna: It is that . . . It felt way real that I have ever experienced in my life before!

Jason: What . . . Anna! Are you alright! Are you hurt?

Anna: No, I am not hurt but got a bit of a scratch! The thing is, I am afraid to hurt others more than ever! I am not delusional but what happened today was as real as what happened all those years ago!

Jason: Hey, Anna if it is that bad, I am coming back right away!

Anna: No, Jason please I know that you think going back home is triggering that! But for how long I can avoid it!

Jason: But Anna, I don’t want you or anyone hurt in any way!

Anna: Jason . . . Love! I need to go and get over with it! Whatever it is I need to overcome it!

Jason: I am sorry, Anna! If you are doing this just because I told you it is the only way to make peace with it, then just leave it! Abandon the idea, we will do this together in a safer way!

Anna: Jason, I am surely doing it for you and for my kids but most importantly, I am doing it for myself! And I know I want to do it!

Jason: If that is what you want to do, then it’s alright! I support you but do have others around you and don’t be alone!

Anna: I rely on it now to be okay! Now, more than ever!

Jason: I am hopeful that it will work for sure! The way you are so resolved to do it, I know that you will make it happen!

Anna: I am positive about it!

Jason: I want to know about your symptoms later as well! If anything goes wrong just return back to London immediately!

Anna: Yes, I assure you about that! I will keep telling you about these experiences or symptoms in your case!

Jason: I am sure you will!

Anna: Okay darling, I will talk to you about it when we meet okay!

Jason: I hope it does not turn out to be something bad, and please take good care and don’t skip the medication at all! And take care of my little princesses as well! I miss you all so much!

Anna: We miss you too! Can’t wait to see you!

Jason: Same love can’t wait!

Jason: Oh yeah, I will be at your fathers to pick you all up at the end of the month!

Anna: Oh, that’s great! Let me tell the girls! They will be super excited to know that!

Jason: Do tell them but take good care of yourself! I will keep checking on you guys as well!

Anna: Alright, don’t worry about it! I will take care love, bye!

Jason: Love you, bye!

The call ended and Jason dialed another call before resorting to his work desk in the room booked for his conference! He was ever more focused, ‘I think Anna had a shock today!’ as he said that to another Expert Psychiatrist. The call was not long but he was expecting him for further consultation on the matter. He had known Anna since she was in her early twenties. Her was the case of a famous artist who painted countryside sceneries and landscapes in her studio, but he could never actually visit any of the exhibition by her. Her case was not a concealed one like most of the people in the limelight desire for themselves.

‘She was friendly, open and made light-hearted humor about her condition in her interviews about her life. But being a psychiatrist, it was things and experiences like this that always bring forth the second nature of diagnosing people around to him. He knew that it was a coping mechanism, these paintings and all these keeping herself engaged in doing something to let the demon as they call it out.

Anna was recommended to visit Jason in his early years of practice. Though he was young but was acknowledged and kept in high regards owing to his contribution in the old homes, he visited during an internship. Anna’s last psychiatrist who was greatly acknowledged as an expert in the field forwarded her case to him. He wanted to test and ensure his ability before he could offer him any job in his hospital. Jason met Anna on her exhibition that she held as a charity for homeless kids. It was his way of getting to know them before introducing himself as a physiatrist, he met his patient as a commoner and tried to hook them up in a conversation about themselves. She opened up quite a bit and from that day on they became good friends. He introduced himself at the end of that visit. She warmed up to him as he was different in his approach. He did not sound like an expert, but he did wonders in a so subdued manner that it felt natural. Jason married Anna following her recovery, he never let the boundaries of his work and personal life blend even when it was her that he had to see in his clinic. She was his patient, friend and then a wife to him. He remained keen on trying to sort and suppress the triggers that meant keeping her away for anything that reminded her of her home, but he knew that it was inevitable and is crucial to complete recovery. So, he suggested her to visit her father during the summer break not just for the kids, but also for her to recover and overcome her trauma.