The female police officer proffered her hand, I shook it
firmly, thanking her at the same time for the care and kindness she lavished on
Christian from the time her partner and she found him and brought him here into
my care.
I beckoned a near by nurse to take over and the three of us
walked towards one of the consulting rooms. Christian, (the little boys
name),walked hesitantly between us, his not so clean looking "Blankie"
clutched tightly in his arms.
When we reached the treatment room, he suddenly stopped rigid.
His eyes were filled with fear and a single tear rolled diwn his left cheek.
Gently Nurse Kelly coaxed him through the door into the big
room.
He stood just there and looked around in astonishment, his
large, gray eyes seemed to soak up all that surrounded him.
Never letting go of that little blanket ,he stepped cautiously
towards me; I took a step forward and stretched my hand out to stroke over his
hair, an unruly mess of copperbrown locks.
He watched my hand and me like a wild, alert animal, ready to
take to its heels at the slightest sign of danger.
My hand was nearly touching his head, when it happened: he
turned on his heels and tried to bolt for the exit, only to be stopped by Nurse
Kelly, who caught him in her arms. The unexpected contact with her made him
crumple on to the floor in a small heap of writhing bodymass.
I walked closer to him to gather him in my arms, I felt so
desperately sorry for him, but the look on his face made me stop.
He looked so frightened, chased, almost haunted; his eyes were
wide with fear and dread. I realized then that this little boy was deeply
traumatized by something or someone.
I knew, it would take a great deal of patience and loving
attention to nurse his neglected body back to health, but his damaged soul was
a different matter.
(to be cont.)
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