The Secret of Min's Castle

Chapitre 7

Dear readers,

I was following Jimin and Teahyung, each holding a hand to lead me to their younger brother.

Teahyung said, pointing to a room at the end of the corridor: "He's there, in that room, in Father's study". When I entered, I saw the little boy curled up on the floor. He was rocking back and forth, crying and covering his ears.

He was having a panic attack. Seeing that in such a young person touched me in a different way. This little boy couldn't speak. He was alone, never able to express his feelings. He had to live with it all day long, without ever being able to free himself from it. 

Jimin tells me, "He does this a lot, but this time it lasts a long time. We don't understand, it sounds like his ears are hurting."

I had to calm him down. So I sat down beside him. I covered his hands with mine. I began to speak softly to him: "Breathe....count to three in your head....un ....deux .....trois". Jungkook was now following my breathing rhythm. And I continued to count for him, like this for a while longer.

I stopped only when he was finally able to look at me. His eyes were red from crying so much. He was a very young boy and needed tenderness. So I took him in my arms. He must have been exhausted by so much emotion, because he fell asleep very quickly.

 Seizures are often a reaction to something external or traumatic. Had something happened? Or was it the same thing gnawing at him with every seizure? The more I observed him, the more plausible the second hypothesis seemed. I said softly, "He can't seem to get rid of it without talking, and that's certainly what's blocking his speech. .

I was amused to see his brothers looking at me with such admiration: "Wow, you're a real doctor.

Even though I knew the answer, I preferred to ask, "Did anything in particular happen? And as I'd guessed, they both said no. But they added a pertinent detail. But they added a pertinent detail: "You know madam, before he does that, he always starts by plugging his ears as if they were in pain.

 His ears? Is there anything he doesn't want to hear, or shouldn't have heard? A lot of unanswered questions.

It reminded me of something my father had told me. Monsieur Min often talked to him about music that was as unbearable as it was intoxicating. Was there a connection? Was young Junkook plugging his ears because of this same melody? I'd do my best to find out.

But for the moment, all that mattered was that he had fallen asleep. The crisis must have tired him out, but I was reassured to see him calm at last. Teahyung took him in his arms. I told him to take care of himself.

Madam," said Jimin, "are you really here to help us? You know it's been years since we mattered to anyone. We could die and no one would be sad. So why do you want to help us?

 The child's words were mature. All three were well aware of their situation. It's always worse to be aware than to live in a splendid, protective illusion.

I replied, "Call me Noona (the name Korean boys use to refer to an older woman close to them), all of you call me that. I'm here because, like you, I'm an orphan. My father died three months ago. You're too young to remember, but your father and mine knew each other. My father was a "doctor of the soul", he wanted to help yours heal. Today, it's my turn to do the same with all of you. Consider me a trusted friend. I'll never leave you, I promise."

So Jimin, Teahyung and I crossed our fingers to seal this promise. Jungkook woke up at that moment and came to hug me. His warmth did me good. They were so alone, how could they live in such misery? The three of them were like flowers that had sprouted in an icy winter.