Hope

Language Barrier

Amy was coloring in the lent book, and Dani was watching her with piercing eyes. She has been staring at her for like 15 minutes. Isn't the whole thing with ADHD is that they can't focus? So why could she just stare so intensely at the coloring book that she wasn't even coloring in? Amy had ADHD too... And this has never happened to her before.

Lauren is playing with some weird toy thing that Amy can't even explain and when Lisa sees her looking at it she speaks up.

"Umm... Have a question?"

Amy is so startled by her voice that she flinches, almost hitting Dani in the face. However, Dani's gaze does not falter.

"Oh... Umm sorry... But... Yeah?"

Lisa raises an eyebrow.

"You don't have to be scared. I'm not going to bite you or anything..."

"S-sorry..."

Lisa sighs deeply in exaggeration.

"Just ask."

Amy bites her lip. Should she really ask? What if someone gets mad at her for asking? What if when Lynne and Mike get home, they get mad at her?

"Look. Stop overthinking that. Just ask. I won't get mad at you. Sheesh."

How did Lisa know what she was thinking? It was like she could read minds. Amy takes in a deep breath and asks her question.

"What is Lauren playing with?"

"That's all? Did you get nervous before asking that? You know what, nevermind, Kath gets that nervous for simple things too. Anyway... It's a stim toy. Laur has autism."

Amy had never heard of a stim toy. What the rip was it?

"It's... Like a toy... That people with autism use. It's a toy that... Honestly, I'm not 100% sure what it is. It's kind of just like a repetitive motion that she can do, it's anxiety-relieving and preferable to some of her body stims."

It's honestly kinda creepy how Lisa can tell what she is thinking and Amy doesn't know what to say so she gets out a grunt of acknowledgment. She still wanted to ask why Dani was still staring at her coloring book but, it's fine.

"Any other questions?"

Lisa looks at her with a knowing look.

"Fine... Why is Dani staring at me so deeply... Isn't our whole ADHD thing is that we can't concentrate?" Amy waves her hand around dismissively.

Lisa looks confused but answers quickly nonetheless.

"It's her hyperfocus thing... I thought you would know that because you had ADHD as well but, whatever."

Amy mutters out a quiet apology and gets ready to get up and go to her room. Where she can't annoy anyone.

"Nah, your fine Ames. Just confused about how you don't know what she's doing. I thought you would know about hyperfocus."

Lisa points toward Dani who is still fascinated by the coloring book. 

However, Amy doesn't believe her and instead retreats to 'her' room, upstairs. After she has gotten up the stairs, she turns to go into her room when she runs into someone, falling into the floor. Then she has suddenly been pinned to the ground. Another language is being yelled at her and Amy doesn't know what is happening.

"Fass mich nicht an. Ich werde dich töten"

"W-what... I... What's happening?"

Amy attempts to move her arm, struggling to get up, being very unsuccessful in freeing herself but, being successful in pissing this person off even more.

"Ich sagte. Nicht berühren. Was willst du von mir? Ich habe keine Informationen für Sie. Tu mir nicht weh."

Suddenly Amy gets very dizzy and she feels like she can't breathe. Her heart is pounding and everything becomes a blur.  Her entire body feels tingly and... and... she can't explain it. Suddenly she is being released from being pinned to the floor and Amy immediately moves to the wall so that no one can be behind her.

"Tut mir Leid. So Leid es mir tut. ich wollte dir nicht wehtun."

Amy doesn't know what this person is saying but, does whoever is talking to her understand that she can't Breathe?

"Wissen Sie, was zu tun ist, wenn Sie Panikattacken haben... Hilft irgendetwas? Reden... kein reden?"

"Chris... I know you are trying to help but... umm... Amy doesn't know how to speak your language? I know what you are trying to say, I can understand you a little... but why don't you sign to Kath, she can tell me, I can help Ames. Or... You could try speaking English? I know it's hard to speak English after you've gotten a little... startled... But, if you really want to help, try English. I know that you know English."

Amy can hear the voices becoming clearer but she still can't breathe... And when did she start crying? Someone starts hugging her and humming some tune that she can't place her finger on. She does recognize it though. Her body slowly begins... catching up with her thoughts...  She is slowly starting to feel more normal.

"Oh mein Gott... Tut mir Leid... Ich wollte nicht... du hast mir nur Angst gemacht... Ich bin so daran gewöhnt... zu Ihnen."

What language was this person speaking? She couldn't tell. Amy realizes that Lisa is the one holding her, and she is now just talking, saying random things.

"So. I don't know what to say but, hopefully, you can calm down from your panic attack. Ummm. I'm going to redye my hair again tonight... I think... I like the green but, I want it to be bluer. Chris is sorry, you just surprised her and she acted on reflex... Ummm... shoot. Can you understand me?"

Amy forces her head to nod, even if it is very small movements.

"Ok... well... good. You should go to your room and rest... Just call if you need anything. The gardeners and the cleaners will be here soon, then we will have lunch. Ok?"

"Oh Gott Oh Gott. Ich wollte niemandem wehtun. Jetzt werden Sie mich rausschmeißen und dann... dann wird Er mich wieder finden"

Amy doesn't know how to respond so she just pushes herself to get up and she slowly wobbles to her bedroom, collapsing onto the fluffy rug as the family dog cuddles up next to her.

So... that just happened...