"Daddy, is something wrong with me?" Ellen asked her father in his office. "What? No? Why do you ask sweetie?" Aaron asked in alarm. "Maybe my being born was a mistake. You and mom should have really planned this. Ever since I was born, everyone has been leaving me. My grandparents left me, my friend Adwoa left me, even you left me, and now, the person I thought wouldn't leave me, left…me…too…" Ellen explained, breaking in tears again. Aaron was so heartbroken to hear his daughter say that, he rushed to her side, gathering the frail girl in his arms, rocking her in the swivel chair. He did not know whoever Adwoa was (Ellen's first friend, but she got jealous of her achievements and left her. She was the assistant girl's prefect in Ellen's basic school in Nima), but he knew if he hadn't left, his daughter wouldn't be in this condition. She would have had all the attention and spoiling in the world, for a boy like Henry to not win her over with that. "There's nothing wrong with you sweetheart, anyone who knows you knows that." Aaron consoled in a gentle voice. "Are you disappointed in me, daddy? It's only fair, I was upset with you too." Ellen asked, looking up to her father. She was behaving like a kid now, and Aaron knew the behavioral change was a result of her condition. He couldn't believe he had not seen it right from the day he went for her in school, that she was going in and out of a catatonic state. "I won't lie to you sweetheart, I am, but I'm more upset with myself that I'm unable to do anything." Aaron answered, Ellen, looking down like a child that has just been scolded. "I'm sorry daddy." Ellen said, burying her head in his chest to sob more. Chris came to meet Ellen in her father's lap, almost asleep. "Shh, what took you so long?" Aaron questioned after signaling him to be quieter. "I had to attend to a patient, I'm sorry. How is she? These are drugs for catatonia and anti-depressants. Isn't she too young to take them?" Chris spoke in low tones, asking the questions on his mind. "I know, that's why she's been giving Lexapro and Duloxetine. Those ones are safer for her. She's not fine Chris, I swear Stephanie was better than this. At least her depression was mild, Ellen is really going through a lot. I will skin that bastard the day I see him again." Aaron said with concern and rage. "I agree, but maybe it's because she is surrounded by things that reminds her of him. Steph was better because she wasn't here in Ghana, remember she couldn't come here for some time, till she was okay. How about you take her away from here, maybe a therapeutic vacation, since Christmas is coming. Anywhere at all, I'm sure it will help." Chris suggested, agreeing that Ellen had it worse than Steph. He had wanted to kill Henry when he found out he was dating Ellen, after the video was released and he told his sister about it. He was especially furious with Steph for not being wiser than this, after what she herself went through from being in love with that guy. If he had known Ellen was the "girlfriend", they all spoke about at the party, he'd have taught him a lesson to stay away from the girl, and even reported it to his uncle. Not just because he had feelings for the sweet girl, but because she was too special to be a plaything for Henry. He hasn't spoken to Stephanie till now because of this. "I think you are right, my whole family deserves a break and a vacation. Maybe we can vacation together in Paris." Aaron agreed and suggested. "Anywhere but France, uncle!" Chris exclaimed, Aaron shooting him a warning look as the figure in his arms stirred. "Sorry." He whispered when he realized the exclamation almost woke Ellen. He had not seen her since the scandal, and was happy to see her today, even though she didn't smile back like she normally did, and didn't hug him back when he initiated it. He was really worried about her. He knew she was sad and hurt because of how things turned out, but he wasn't expecting her to be this way. Then again, Henry only broke up with his sister and she went for therapy too, how much more Ellen, who was defamed this way. He knew Henry was low, but he never thought he could go lower than normal, no one did. "Why can't we go to France? Have we been banned from there? I promised Elena to go back there with Ellen during our honeymoon." Aaron asked with raised brows...
Ellen finally woke up in her bed and wondered for how long she was asleep. Because of her low HB, she got tired easily and slept for long, most times. She had gotten her appetite these days little by little after taking folic acid and multivitamins as part of her drugs. "Oh Amma, you're awake. Come and eat dear." Elena was first to spot her daughter coming down the stairs. Though four months pregnant, she was yet to show a baby bump. Her baby was healthy now, and Aaron had allowed her to go back to work as they had arranged, minimizing her work hours and workload. He didn't want to take any risks, and working took her mind off worrying about Ellen. They had found out through an ultrasound that the baby was conceived in July, around the time Ellen's birthday was approaching. Ellen was born on 25th July, and her little sibling was conceived on 21st July, meaning the delivery would be at the later days of April or earlier, if there was premature birth. Ellen took a seat, noticing Aaron was looking at her differently. "How are you feeling sweetheart? He asked her. "I'm okay daddy." She replied, her father glad she was not in a catatonic state now. "Amma, what do you think about going out for a Christmas vacation this year?" Her mother asked with excitement. "Yes, we'll go to America next month, once you start getting better. Would you like to go to the Disney world?" Aaron backed his wife with the same excitement, smiling at her. "We've alerted your school you're taking the semester off. This has never happened before, and I'm really worried about you, but I know you'll catch up. I trust you." Elena continued, drawing tears to her daughter's eyes at her last statement. Ellen had not spoken to her mother about the incident, and Elena had not asked her anything either. She had no idea how to talk about breaching her mother's trust like this. Besides, she was not in the right frame of mind to talk about it.
A Month later (December)
Aaron and Chris rushed to the Psych department's private ward in his hospital, after Jenomiah called him. They were together when the call came through about an emergency situation. "What happened? How come she's here?" Aaron asked anxiously. "I had to sedate her Aaron; she got hysterical. I told you I'd admit her if her depression persisted. You should have seen how violently she shook, talking about you know who. I thought we were making progress, finally getting her to talk over these past few weeks, yet she behaved differently today, shaking and screaming with tears, holding her chest. I just had to sedate her before she became a hazard to herself." Dr. Frimpong explained, turning to look at the sleeping girl on the bed. "What did you two talk about today?" Aaron asked with a serious expression. "You know about doctor-patient confidentiality Aaron, I can't tell you." Jenomiah said. "Then why did you call me? Isn't this between you and your patient as well? That's my daughter Jen, and I need to know what's going on with her!" Aaron said with sarcasm and upset. Chris just sat by Ellen's bed, holding her hand in worry. He hated the fact that there was nothing he could do to help her. He just hated Henry more, and ignored his sister and Audrey, who wouldn't stop contacting him. "Fine. We have been able to talk about her life for some time. I started over with her, so she would get comfortable to talk to me about what was really bothering her. I asked her about high school, and I noticed her respiration had changed when she was talking about it. Then I asked her about boys, particularly the one she had been with. She went dead silent, and the next moment, something snapped in her, making her hysterical and shake violently." Jenomiah explained patiently. "Why would you keep on probing after you noticed she was getting uncomfortable?!" Aaron demanded. "Because that's my job Aaron. You don't stop your surgery when the patient starts hemorrhaging, do you? You fix it together with the problem, that's our job. Therapy is not supposed to be comfortable at the start Aaron; you have to make the effort to get over it. Ellen has to face her innermost demons and emotions, in order to get over it. If I stop every time she reacts to that topic, I wouldn't be helping her. She has to come out of the dark place and talk about it; that's the only way she'll be fine. For now, I suggest you keep her here, where we can keep an eye on her, and I'll try to get through to her, however way I can. She has to be willing before we can help her, but I promise to do my very best, Aaron. "What's your itinerary for this Christmas?" Aaron asked after being deep in thought for a while. "I'll be spending it with my family, why?" Jen asked with a reply. "I need you to come to America with me. Chris had pointed out something to me some weeks ago, and I think you'll be a perfect addition." Aaron answered. "Huh? Why?" Jen asked in shock. "Being in Ghana is not helping her progress. I want to take her out for a therapeutic vacation, but I think with you there in a different environment, you can help her get better. What do you think Chris?" Aaron explained, turning to Chris. "I think it's a splendid idea uncle, I'll also help in any way I can." Chris replied with a promise. "Why would you be there?" Jen asked. "We're vacationing together. Come with us Dr. Jen, I'll even pay your travel expenses myself." Chris pleaded. "Easy there Rody rich, even I have enough money to travel abroad, but this expense will be catered for by the client, which is Aaron, and I'll charge a handsome fee for this." Jen said with a grin, but Aaron smiled and hugged her for understanding. "I will pay anything within my capacity to. Just name your price." Aaron said with a smile. "Now, what am I going to tell Elena?" Aaron murmured to himself, but they heard it. "She doesn't know her daughter is in therapy? Why are you hiding it from her?" Jen asked in bewilderment. "Aunt is pregnant, and can't go through any stress at the moment." Chris answered instead of Aaron. "She's pregnant? Congratulations. I had no idea." Jen exclaimed, congratulating Aaron with a smile. "Yes, she is, but it's a secret, so don't be a blubber mouth like this one here." Aaron said, raising a brow at Chris. "Sorry uncle, at least if she's coming with us, she won't be surprised to know right." Chris apologized and joked. "That's true, I agree Dr. Clarke." Jen said and they laughed. "I'll know what to say to her, just take care of our princess." Aaron said. "You know Aaron, I can tell you're holding yourself off from some emotions and I really respect that. You're putting your daughter's needs before your emotions, and that makes you a great father. I know the little one will be blessed to have you." Jen commended with a smile. "Well, she's still my baby girl. There's so much I couldn't do for her, and I want to do them now. It's quiet unfortunate this happened." Aaron sighed. "Well, everyone deals with trauma differently, your daughter seems to carry a lot of self-blame, bringing down her esteem. I promise to get to the bottom of this, I bet on my doctorate. But what about school?" Jen said and asked. "We've taken a leave of absence for her. Frankly speaking, my daughter would have arrived as a corpse, or in catatonic coma, if I had not brought her home. I was too busy with my queen to know my princess was suffering too. You must do what you can Jenomiah, I can't lose my daughter to a mental condition because of some playboy she took interest in. Even her mother didn't end up this way, and I left her with a two-year-old." Aaron lamented. He was just too worried to think about his disappointment in her. 'Today she is being detained in the psych ward, what if it got worse and she had to be sent to rehab, or an asylum?' He shuddered at that thought, joining Chris to sit by her, sound asleep.