Solitude & Storms

6.

Slowly, Isabelle stepped away from Raphael. She didn't think it would helpthough.

The tension in the room was stifling, the child probably thought hissuspicions were right just by looking at how tense the adults were.

Isabelle knew what to do. Whilst Raphael stood there looking like he wasafraid the floor would crack open beneath his feet, she tilted her head at thechild and gave him a huge smile.

"Hello!"

Her cheerful tone seemed to startle both Raphael and Rayan as they looked ather with similar expressions of confusion.

Making sure she kept her expression happy and light, she slowly approachedhim. "How're you doing, buddy?"

The closer she got, the more she saw how frail the boy was. The skin aroundhis eyes was reddened and tender, whether from crying or lack of sleep,Isabelle didn't know.

She slowly crouched a short distance from him and held out a hand. "I'mIsabelle. What's your name?"

The wary expression in his eyes melted into mild curiosity but he saidnothing in response.

Behind her, Raphael watched in intrigue. Would Rayan respond to her? A fewmoments passed and the child was still silent. He sighed. "Isabelle, it's no use-"

"Did we wake you?" she continued softly, never taking her gaze off Rayan."We made a lot of noise, didn't we?" She laughed to show that she was in nodanger and watched the child's small hands loosen their grip on the bat heheld. Nodding, she leaned forward conspiratorially. "See, what happened wasthere was a spider in here. That guy over there," She pointed back at Raphael."He's so scared of spiders, he turns into a big baby and screams when spidersare around. He needed me to catch that spider for him!" Huffing proudly, she heldup an arm and flexed whatever muscle she had to imitate Popeye the sailor.

The big baby in question was staring at her as if she'd completely lost hermind, wondering what on earth she was saying.

Soon, he realized that maybe Isabelle wasn't completely crazy, however.Because, as soon as Raphael returned his gaze to Rayan, he couldn't help butnotice the miniscule changes in the boy's face. Where his chin had been tightlyclenched to show his bravery, his little face was now relaxed. Eyes that had glimmeredwith fear now held only intrigue as he stared up at Isabelle.

When she kissed her bicep, Raphael swore he saw the child's lips twitchbefore they went still again.

Like she was talking to an old friend, Isabelle happily apologized about thenoise they'd been making.

"Well?" she said finally. "What's your name, buddy?"

She held out her hand again, a second offer.

Raphael waited for her disappointment. Rayan was a child who'd beenwillingly isolated in his room for the past month, refusing to see anyone andshowing displeasure and fear whenever even Raphael went near him.

Every morning Raphael went in there and Rayan was wearing a new set ofclothes, his hair washed and clean. At six years old, he took care of himselflike an adult and wanted no one near him. The guilt crushed Raphael's heart. Hewas Rayan's only family and the child could barely stand him.

Raphael knew the reason wasn't him but the trauma the child carried, but hestill felt terrible. If he'd been there for him as an uncle should, there would've been no traumatic experiences in the first place. 

Before he'd come to live here, Rayan had gotten six months of therapy. Raphael didn't think it helped, considering that it had been over a yearsince Rayan last showed normal behaviour. A year since the child last spoke a single word.