Abandoned

21

Zareya answered her phone and could immediately hear the bloodcurdling screams of Sienna in the background. The officer didn't even have to say a word.
"I'm coming" is all the psychologist said before she abandoned her half full shopping cart and practically ran back to her car.

Unlike her previous car trip, the woman drove in silence. What on earth could have happened to make her scream like that.

She drove as fast as she could trying her best to still follow road safety while her thoughts were spiralling. Her chest was physically hurting, she should have sent someone else out shopping.

She hurried to park her car and ran into the hospital not stopping to engage in any polite conversation as she normally would.

Zareya burst through the doors and quickly assessed the situation. Sienna was curled up in a corner of the small room, rocking back and forth and hitting her head hard on the wall behind her.

"What did you do" she snapped in an accusing tone towards the officer whose next words fell on deaf ears as zareya slowly approached the small girl not wanting to startle her further.

When her soft words didn't have their usual effect zareya resorted to physically snapping the girl out of her panick attack. At first she fights against the gentle hold but the psychologist just holds the girl
Tighter to her chest. The harsh screams eventually stopped and the little girls breathing began to slow. She can hear the faint whispers of Zareya's gentle words there to comfort her. Gentle murmurs of "I'm here baby" and "I'm right here. You're okay, you are safe."

When the girl seemed to have calmed down and was fully melted into Zareya's embrace, the psychologist took a moment to look at the girl. As their eyes briefly met Sienna opened her mouth as if to say something.

"Ma-"

The harsh raspiness of the unused and now sore voice filled the silence of the room.

Zareya's heart skipped a beat. Surely she wasn't? No she couldn't have.

"Ma-"

There it was again.

Tears were flowing like a waterfall from siennas eyes as she desperately seemed the comfort she needed.

At the realisation of the girl speaking the psychologist also released a few tears.

She wanted to bask in the warmth of the moment but she knew she couldn't. She needed to stay professional. She was not this girls mama no matter how much love the pair shared. She was her psychologist. And that is all she was.

But in that instance, professionalism took a back seat to compassion.

Tears welled up as Sienna leaned deeper into the embrace, her small frame trembling with unspoken fears and pent-up emotions. "Shh," Zareya murmured softly, stroking Sienna's hair. "It's okay. You're safe now," she reassured in a hushed tone, hoping the words would weave around Sienna like a comforting cocoon.

"Mamas got you."

**************************************************

A few hours and a nap later Sienna was much calmer. She woke up full of energy and was eager to play. Spitting out her pacifier she sat up and quickly located the psychologist. " Hi Sienna! " Zareya exclaimed with a warm smile, noting the spark of liveliness returning to her.

When the small girl had fallen asleep zareya went to find Tage to ask what had triggered her. When hearing the story she was quick to apologise to the officer who assured her she understood the protective nature she had over the girl.
Tage had seen similar bonds formed during her years on the force and knew how fragile and essential they could be in such turbulent times.

Zareya thought now would be a good time to introduce the girl to the puzzles and blocks she had picked up earlier. As Sienna, full of curiosity, hurried over, her eyes lit up at the sight of the colorful array now spread before her. She didn't get to see much color in the bad place. Only red. She didn't like red.

Sienna showed a keen interest in the building blocks and picked up two before bashing them together with a delighted giggle, the clattering sound echoing her newfound joy.

She watched as the psychologist stacked a few on top of each other in curiosity and wanted to try it herself. With determination, Sienna began placing one block on top of another, focused and absorbed in her new task. When she had stacked three she looked up at zareya seeking her approval and was met with a warm smile and a gentle nod of encouragement. "Well done baby" she said feeling immensely proud of the small girl. She had great understanding.

After a long four weeks in the hospital room and mounds of progress being made, Zareya and the rest of siennas team had been discussing the possibility of her being able to go outside. The idea of Sienna feeling grass beneath her feet, seeing the sky unobstructed and breathing fresh air again was enticing and also terrifying. None of them knew how she would react.

They had agreed that they would expose her to the outside little by little, starting with having the window open in the room . The gentle breeze wafted in, carrying the scents of blossoming spring flowers and the promise of near freedom.

Sienna payed no attention to the soft wind as she was distracted by the stacking blocks. The fourth block wobbled slightly as she placed it on top, her concentration unbroken. The woman watched with bated breath, waiting to see if it would topple over. The block steadied, and Sienna grinned triumphantly, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction. Zareya let out a sigh of relief, her heart swelling with pride.

Sienna shuffled back, admiring her work. The tower was tall now, a wonky stack of wooden blocks teetering at the edge of perfection. For a moment, the only sound was the gentle rustling of the leaves above, the world outside their little bubble forgotten.

Zareya crossed the space between them, crouching beside the young girl. She reached out, a hand hovering near the tower, almost as if she were afraid to disturb it. "You did it," she said, her voice soft but full of awe.

Sienna beamed, looking up at Zareya with wide eyes as if there had never been any doubt. Zareya chuckled, brushing a lock of hair from Sienna's forehead. She knew that look well—Sienna didn't need to speak for her to understand what she was feeling. The joy was clear in the way her fingers curled slightly at her sides and how she looked at the tower with unspoken wonder.