Finally

Part 25: Going, Going, Gone!

Walking to the Nursery, my body tired and sagging from the long heavy day- I spot Luna sitting by herself in the corner, playing with a blue teddy bear.

She isn't smiling or exaggeratedly imagining some quiet fantasy.

She is seemingly sad.

"Oh, Dr. Sharpe. You're a bit early." Claire says as she looks up from her paperwork.

"Yes, I thought I'd leave a tad early for Luna's sake. Is she alright? Did she get in trouble?" I ask as I gaze at the small quiet girl.

"No- she's just sitting there quietly."

"How long has she been this way?"

"Half the day."

"Why didn't you inform me of this?" I try not to become angered, but the tone is still there. That poor baby has been sad all day and no one thought to call me so I can find out the problem?

"Well, she's normally this way."

"Normally? That's normal? For a toddler?" It baffles me. Claire knows what she's doing—most days. But a depressed child of any age requires intervention.

"Well, yes. A child from trauma and negl...." She stops and bites her tongue before clicking her pen and looking back down at her work.

"We're you going to say neglect?" I bite hard and she sighs.

"Well...I mean..." I stomp my foot down—it being better than causing an up-roaring- cursing filled scene. "Listen- I know it's hard for you...and most people the see Max as anything but our savior and kindhearted man- but thinking of it through the view point of a mandated reported— and person with a high education in child psychology: what do you see? A two year old with a single father, who puts work—and most other things- above his child. A person who requires love and attention. This same father, leaves his child for more than the recommended 6 hours- in a public place with strangers and the bare minimum of comfort. No check ins. No special treats. No phoning in just to say hi- to make up for the lack of presence. And then- on top of it all- that same father alienates his daughter from- most- interactions with peers her own age because he simply doesn't have time for her to engage in socializing outside this facility- only for her long a lonesome world to go back into the cycle of being here for nearly 12 hours a day with people she doesn't know. So, Dr. Sharpe- how is that not neglect?"

I look at Luna and notice her yawn slightly and rub her fist over her eye, her frown growing with it.

Is all that considered neglect?

I think of it as a single parent doing the best he can for his child.

I didn't agree with Gwen and Richard when they were trying to take Luna from Max.

However...it's hard not to see the other side of the coin now.

To see how visibly distraught Luna is.

And Claire is right.

The poor girl usually is hear from the time she wakes up- to well passed what her bed time should be.

And for her clarifying Max's absence from it all—it's a bit shocking and sad.

He doesn't stop in to see her?

He doesn't bring her little treats or take her out for a time?

He just leaves her to be looked after by people she knows but isn't loved by.

Her eyes glance up when she's down rubbing and her frown disappears as she sees me.

"MINE!!!" Staggering to get up, she drops the blue bear- that isn't hers- and comes racing towards me- pushing her tiny body into mine and reaching up to be held. "Mine!!"