The ride back to Trasacco was silent, like the first ride they had when Aaron took her to the Wilson Tower. Ellen was in her own world as she stared outside her side of the window. She had barely said bye to her friends when they bid her farewell, after bringing her schoolbag with some few things to the hospital. The light in her eyes was dead as she looked at them like a lifeless doll, barely recognizing them. "We miss you so much Elle, I hope you find yourself soon. We'll be waiting for you." Abby said, hugging the girl who just stared straight. "Yeah Elle, get well soon." Kelly said as well, hugging her too. Ellen didn't mind them, as the only person she recognized was her father. She had wept bitterly in his arms after waking up last night, and Aaron's heart ached for his daughter. He had to put his anger and disappointment aside to support his baby girl. He held her tightly in consolation, trying to calm down the fragile figure in his arms. The only words she uttered were "I'm so sorry daddy." Over and over again as she wept with bitterness. Even her father had shed a tear at some point, raging all over again at Henry for breaking his daughter this way. Elena had called to ask of his whereabouts, and he explained he had to come pick up Ellen after getting a call that she's sick. "What's wrong with her?" Elena had asked in alarm, but Aaron urged her to calm down. "She has low blood count, and her ulcer has acted up again, but she's fine. I'll bring her home tomorrow God willing." Aaron had replied calmly and tactfully. Elena was still in denial, and he didn't want to say anything that would trigger stress when he wasn't around to take care of her. She was in her second trimester now, but recent events made her unable to do all that she wanted to, due to stress. She was yet to show a baby bump though. Aaron drove through the gates of his mansion, a little past noon, to meet his wife at the porch waiting for them. "Honey, I know you are in shock right now, but your mother is also in denial about everything. Please try and control yourself around her, she's worried about you. I'll book a clinical psychologist to see you soon, if you don't get well, also, you have to eat something, in order to take your drugs. Do you understand me sweetheart?" Aaron informed and instructed, Ellen turning to nod at him with puppy eyes. She was not comfortable with the endearments, as it reminded her of someone she didn't want to remember. She had tried Henry and Clara's numbers multiple times after the day school reopened, but she got the same response every time she tried. 'They had played her, after filling her head with lies and deceit, leaving her to her doom. It was all her fault, if only she had listened, when her friends had sounded warning trumpets even before she met Stephanie, who kept urging her to be careful. If only she had not allowed things to move beyond a kiss in the hotel. If only she had not gone behind her parents to follow a boy outside the country. Come to think of it, what if the plane had crushed, what would they have done? Or that her parents had not gone for the trip?' Tears welled in her eyes as these thoughts run in her head for the nth time since her heartbreak. She was gradually losing her sanity as she felt she was screaming but no one could hear her, so she could only cry, disappointed in herself more than she was in him. He was a player, he did what he did best, play. She should have known better than to be played. "Ama, my daughter, why have you lost so much weight? Why are you not eating in school? Are your provisions and money not enough? What's going on with you?" Elena bombarded her with questions, checking her out. "Elena, how about you let us go inside, she has to eat in order to take her drugs." Aaron said, urging both of them inside before Ellen broke down again. Elena was extremely worried about her daughter. She had seen her sad, and mopey before, but never this miserable. One would think she had lost a loved one after looking at her. "Ama, won't you eat your food? Is this how you've been treating food in school? No wonder you are sick. Eat up, come on." Elena said, instructing her to eat. Ellen forced herself, but could only eat two spoons of rice. "I'm sorry mom, I have no appetite. May I go to my room please?" Ellen said, asking to be excused. "I know you don't have an appetite, but you have to eat something Ellen. Unless you want me to admit you at the hospital, where they'll force you till you get better. Come on, eat at least five spoonsful, so you can take your drugs." Aaron replied her instead, not giving her a choice. Ellen sighed, forcing herself to eat something. Elena sat across, looking at her daughter as if she didn't recognize her. She was still in denial that the girl in the video was her daughter. The girl across her was just existing but not living. Her daughter was a happy contented child, always lively no matter what, the girl here looked the opposite of lively. Ellen laid on her bed, oblivious to her surroundings. She had lost interest in everything, even life itself. She used to lie on this same bed and get lost in her own world with thoughts of he, who shall not be named. Sleeping on the bed even made her sick, so she moved to the reading nook by her window, and even that wasn't working. Her eyes fell on teddy; the stuff bear Henry gave her, and the dam blocking her emotions broke, as tears poured in torrents. She went for the bear which was on her bed and placed it in a box, locking it in one of her lockers.
"Aaron, what's wrong with our daughter? You said she is sick, but she looks so lifeless. Did something happen in school? She's been sick before, but she looked better than this. Do you think the studying has taken a toll on her?" Elena asked her husband in the living room, taking a sip of her juice. "She is anemic Elena, she is not strong and she's not lively now because she's going through some things, but she'll be fine. I'll make sure of it, I promise you." Aaron assured his wife with a smile.