Love is Blind

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

For the next few days, Ace busied himself with work, any work that would take his mind off things and the revelation of his parents’ deaths. He wasn’t sure if he could forgive Mysti or whether he had let go of the past. How a tantrum of a 6-year-old could be so life changing for two families. He wasn’t sure of anything except doing odd jobs for friends and anyone who just needed a helper temporarily.

He was taking a lunch break at the canteen of the factory when he received a call from Trish. “Trish,” was his monotone even though he tried to keep his voice light.

“Ace, can... can you help me?” she sounded hesitant and upset at the same time.

Ace blinked, he had never heard Trish sound that way before, “Is there some problem with the kids?”

“No,” Trish sobbed. “It’s Mysti. She has been having nightmares every night since she returned from the trip with you.” Trish paused, recalling her screams, “She keeps crying about being sorry and I think her nightmares about the car crash are back.”

Ace’s heart dropped. Ever since her confession, Mysti was guilt-ridden and there he was, moping around without considering her feelings. “I’ll be there tonight,” was his reply. Trish sounded relief and she hung up.

Candy tried to engage Mysti with other things and even resorting to bribing her to visit the park to no avail. Mysti was stubbornly in a fetal position, rocking herself and mumbling incoherently. Trish bit her lower lip in frustration, feeling that Candy had done everything, she sent her back, telling her to rest. It had been a long day and Ace would be arriving in just an hour. Candy hugged her before leaving.

Hearing a loud crash, Trish rushed to Mysti’s room and saw blood on the floor and bed. Mysti was lying down with her wrists cut. Her eyes were vacant, not responding to her aunt’s shouts. Panicking, Trish called Ace. Ace stepped on the accelerator and exceeded the speed limit a few times before he arrived to pick up Mysti with her wrists now wrapped crudely.

The hours went by in a blur with Trish asking herself why and Ace silently waiting for the surgery to be over. Doctor Yang arrived just as the doctor emerged from the operating theatre. “Madam?” he queried before Doctor Yang opened his mouth. Trish turned towards him and waited for him to continue. “She is alright now but I think she is under stress. Do talk to her.” He went off after informing them that a ward would be ready and they would be able to see her.

“Trish?” Doctor Yang held her by her arm. “What happened?” Trish filled him in and Ace felt his heart break. The accident had scarred Mysti more than he thought. When Mysti woke up, she raved and ranted about her worthless life, in the end, they had to sedate her. Ace stayed with Trish after Doctor Yang left for his rounds.

“Trish, I’m sorry,” Ace began. “I didn’t know that it was that bad.”

“Ace, what are you talking about?”

“She wanted to visit her parents, so I took her there. I didn’t realise that seeing her parents photos would bring her back to that day,” he moaned into his hands.

Trish was stunned. “You mean, after seeing their photos she started to remember?” Ace nodded.

“She had nightmares after she came home from the hospital, it was always the same screaming and it stopped after a few weeks. I thought she was over it but maybe,” she stared at her niece in shock, swallowing a lump in her throat before carrying on, “She locked away the memories because she was afraid. It wasn’t something she wanted to remember. That’s why her memories have mostly been from after the accident.”