11 Years Missing

Kapitel 2 Del 2

A few days after the commotion, her parents visit with a police officer in tow. The woman introduces herself as Officer Amanda Ulf, the same officer who came when Arika returned home. She starts asking Arika a series of routine questions, then about the time she was missing. Arika still remembers absolutely nothing about it or how she found her way back home. So Officer Amanda Ulf continues with questions about the day when the reporter barged in before leaving with a promise to follow up at a later date.

In the morning of August 7th, a week after Arika has been deemed stabilised, she is discharged. She takes her time packing all the garden-variety clothes and knick-knacks her parents and grandmother bought her during her stay at the hospital, ensuring that her toothbrush and soaps are separate and spare sandals in a plastic bag. Then Arika, Lise and her father Håkan meet with the doctor to complete the discharge procedures.

Håkan has a frame that matches his aura, towering and domineering. Enough to intimidate the average person. His wrinkles are obvious but do not diminish his handsome appearance. However, a stern expression forms the longer they listen to Doktor Sven.

"As I've mentioned before, Arika is physically in good health. The scars are of concern but since there is no phantom pain, it should not be our main concern. The issue is Arika's memories and mental state. From the scans we can see that her brain presents a larger percentage of activity than the average person, that is to say, there has been nothing impending her short- or long-term memory since her return. Her amnesia is therefore concerning and my personal opinion is that this was done intentionally. Did Arika ever present an eidetic memory when she was younger?"

"Eidetic memory?" Lise parrots.

"Photographic memory."

"No, she was quite forgetful actually," Håkan responds.

"That's another thing of concern. With present knowledge, I can say with certainty it is not possible to make someone have an eidetic memory. Persons with higher brain functions have had them since they were born, anything else is unheard of. Plus the fact that she has forgotten memories even though she displays eidetic memory capacity...it is puzzling. It might also be the case that the events she experienced were so traumatic that to protect herself, her mind blocked them."

"Do you think this will impact her living normally?" Lise's concern is plainly shown on her face, her hand stroking Arika's hair. They are seated across from Doktor Sven in his office, Arika sandwiched between her parents, the uneasy atmosphere tangible.

"Honestly, I cannot be sure. Arika shows no aversions to interactions, but threatening, fast-paced or disjointed situations and people or environments may disorient her, just like the reporter incident."

Arika looked up to meet Doktor Sven's gaze, recalling the suffocating feeling she felt that day when she blacked out. She doesn't want to feel that way again.