Chapter 185 “Elysial” Her eyes reddened with unshed tears as she said, “He’s in a bad place right now! A very bad place!” Tarquin held his breath, trying to quell the storm rising within him. “What’s wrong with him?” “He has no light inside him. No water, no life, and nothing positive or uplifting. Just an endless fog and swirling dust. He’s lying in a desolate wasteland, battered and barely hanging on… He’s not going to make it.” Tarquin’s head buzzed as though struck by a gong. “What do you mean, hot going to make it? Be clear” in his mind, he’s not going to make it. When he can’t hold on any longer, in reality… he will… “He will what?” “He will die!” Tarquin gasped, the words hitting him like a ton of bricks. Elysia continued, “When he loses the will to live and the belief in his spirit, he will lose the desire to continue in reality. He’ll find any way to end it all, and that’s often the outcome for children with severe psychological issues.” “It can’t be! I told him I had found his birth mother. Shouldn’t he be excited and looking forward to it? Why would he still be so injured?” “You told him you found his mother?” “Yes. “He might not believe you, knowing you lied. Or maybe deep down, he feels that as long as his mother isn’t back, she’s not really found, and the search must go on to solve his current predicament. Only bringing his mother back might change that ” Terquin was silent. The room stayed quiet until an alarm broke the silence from outside. It was 6:30 am, Elijah’s time to wake up, but he remained asleep Elysia explained, “I had to hypnotize him earlier, so he needs to sleep a bit longer.” Tarquin said nothing. Elysia wasn’t sure what else to say. Elijah had been keeping her at arm’s length, preventing her from offering him any psychological counseling, Mental illness wasn’t something that could be cured with medication alone. After a whi upsetting him when he wakes.” a while, sensing that Elijah would soon awaken, Elysia stood to leave. “I should go, to avoid upset Tarquin glanced at Elijah and followed Elysia out of the room. “You don’t need to escort me,” she said as he approached the door. Tarquin didn’t reply, only grabbing a child’s scarf from a hook near the door and tossing it to her. It was soft and adorned with cartoon monsters- Cijah’s Elysia was taken aback. “You called me here just to giveme T Tarquin didn’t speak, closing the door behind him, heading downstairs. After a moment’s hesitation, Elysia followed. Tarquin was still at the same spot, lighting a cigarette, taking puffs in silence Elysia looked at him, feeling a twinge of pity. Perhaps as a parent herself, she understood what it was like when a child was in trouble. But there was little she could do to help. She offered her final advice, “If Elijah shows any strange behavior when he wakes up, call me. If he becomes extremely agitated, give him the medication I provided earlier. Try to avoid gedatives. It’s harmful for kids” Tarquin continued to smoke, his face a mask of stoicism Elysia left with the scarf, but as she reached the commer, she couldn’t resist looking back. In the cold, snowy landscape, the man stood alone against the whiteness, cigarette smoke curling around his furrowed brow, a picture of desolation. If his demeanor had been less stem, the image would have been one of utter heartbreak. Elysia pursed her lips, her feelings a tangled knot. She didn’t wish him well, so sympathy wasn’t quite night, but she couldn’t muster any joy at his plight either.