Chapter 6
Miyuki tried to explain to James everything she knew and what they should do.
"You're right, but I want you to tell the police, so I can take care of Eli."
"You will take her to your house?"
“Yes, there is Morgana, Jacob and others. I think they can help me take care of Eli until the girl is completely healed!"
"Are you sure the court and hospital will allow you to take her?"
"I will ask for approval, Eli cannot continue to stay in the hospital, she looks very uncomfortable and I think she needs a calm and comfortable atmosphere like at home. I will help her as hard as I can, after all, I am the person responsible for the accident she experienced, I can't just let it go!"
"You're right, I'll help you too James!" Miyuki said while holding James' hand.
“Thank you, you're my bestfriend.”
This afternoon, like the previous days, James monitored Eli's development, especially his mental development, which he previously knew was very poor. James and all the nurses who cared for Eli were very concerned about the girl, as if she was living a life that was difficult to imagine.
"How about now ?" Pedro patted James on the shoulder. The psychiatrist wanted to know what the health condition of his prospective patient was.
“I don't know, there's no progress. She still acted like before, afraid of the nurses who came into her room, screaming and rebelling every time she was given an injection or given medicine."
"And that way of eating, what do you think?"
"I've asked the nurses to take the trash can out of her room, especially when it's time to eat, I don't want her to throw her food in the trash and then eat it while holding back tears." James said with a sigh, he hoped that Eli would get better soon and he no longer needed to feel responsible like now.
"Have the police found her family?"
"I went to the address the police gave me, can you find out what happened?"
“Huh? What ?"
"Nothing." James answered flatly.
"What do you mean there aren't any?"
“Her family, they're not there. Their neighbors said they left about two weeks ago.”
"Where? Looking for their lost daughter?"
“No, no one knows, it's definitely not to look for that girl. In fact, I think they went to avoid her and the police too!” James' eyes were dreamy even though his eyes were looking back at the glass where Eli was being treated.
"I don't know whether my suspicion is true or not, is there a problem in that family? Especially with the police?” Pedro asked, increasingly curious, he looked at James who was standing next to him with a thousand question marks.
"Yes, the family often had problems with the police, related to the drug business and also theft committed by the boys in the family."
"What does that have to do with that girl?"
"I can't tell you the details of the problem because I don't have any evidence, what is clear is that she often received physical and mental violence from her family."
“Is it that scary?”
"I don't know, what is clear is that I will help her as much as I can. It feels like I can't just let it go!” Said James.
“I don't think this is part of your responsibility.”
“Yeah, no!”
"Do you seem to see yourself in the past?"
"I don't know, I'm not sure!" James answered while shaking his head slowly, his eyes never leaving Eli. The girl who somehow managed to steal his sympathy so far.
James held Eli's hand tightly and gently and slowly, he helped the girl out of the car. Eli stuttered, the feeling of fear not yet completely leaving his mind. Even though sometimes he thought that James was not a bad person, he was not the same as his father, mother and siblings, James was not the same as them. Family ? Eli suddenly remembered his family, who knows how long he hasn't been home, and who knows how long he hasn't heard curses and shouts from his mother or his father's rough hands that rain down on his body almost every day.
"Are you okay ?" Eli didn't move, she was still rooted to the spot even though James had gently pulled her hand to follow him.
Eli nodded slowly without meaning, she didn't know whether to cry because she was afraid or smile because she was happy. She had almost never been treated well by anyone in this world except for one person she remembered not seeing for a long time.
"Everything will be fine, you're in a safe place now!" James smiled gently, his eyes seemed to smile too, eyes that looked beautiful behind the glasses he usually wore.
Eli started to believe a little because James was the person she saw every day while in the hospital, James was very patient and treated her very well even though the nurses there also treated her well, but James was different.
Eli couldn't pay attention to what James was showing her, his big house with a large yard, Eli's eyes were focused on James' hand which continued to grip her hand tightly.
"Welcome young master?" Greeted the waiters in unison while giving the sweetest smiles they had.
"Jacob, Morgana, Elisa, introduce this girl Eli who I told you about some time ago. From now on Eli will live here in my care as her adoptive parent!" James said kindly, he was trying to make Eli comfortable in her new house.
"Welcome Miss Eli, if you need anything please just tell us. We will definitely help Miss whatever it is, so don't hesitate!” Jacob started his friendly act, which he knew was the best approach in the early stages.
"Hahaha...you can do it!" The laughter of Morgana and Elisa tried to lighten the atmosphere.
Eli was silent, she lowered her head and her body moved on its own as if she couldn't control it. Eli still looked scared and uncomfortable.
"Are you okay, Eli? Don't be afraid, they will help you so that you recover quickly. They're all good people, and we're all family here!” Said James while embracing Eli and trying to calm her down.
"Then let me take Miss Eli to her room, you should rest. Let me take you?"
"Uhh..." Eli shook her head roughly, she reacted as quickly as possible to avoid being touched by someone she had just met. Those who weren't used to Eli's condition could only look at each other.
"It's okay, I'll take her to the room!"
"Yes sir!"
"Come on, Eli!" James held Eli's hand tightly. Every time the doctor did the same thing, Eli always looked at his soft and warm hand.
James took Eli to the room that had been prepared for her right next to James' room. James knew that the girl had to get used to her current situation. From now on, Eli will live in this house with James.
"Okay Eli, from now on this room is yours. All the clothes you will wear are already in this cupboard, remember if you need anything you can call me or if I'm not at home you can call Morgana, Elisa or Jacob, do you understand?" James said while looking at Eli's face which remained flat. Eli just stared around him with a face that was difficult to understand.
James felt that there was an attachment between him and the girl in front of him at this time, a bond that he couldn't understand. Even though Eli is now a little better after the accident a month ago, her long hair and very thin body are the things that make him so sympathetic to Eli.
"You should rest, at dinner I'll pick you up!"
"Don't...!" Eli stammered, it was very difficult for her to finish her sentence. Every word that came out of her mouth felt very heavy and made her breath catch in her chest.
“It's okay, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right back when you've rested, do you understand?" James gently touched Eli's face, he smiled very warmly. Eli continued to look at James' face, taking in every curve of his face. Eli felt something he had never felt before, yes, a feeling of comfort and save when she was close to someone.
James thought for a moment, it seemed impossible to leave Eli alone at this time. This poor girl wasn't used to it, no matter how many times James looked at her face, the traces of suffering would never disappear.
James took Eli to bed and asked the girl to lie down, James tried his best to get Eli to trust him and get rid of her fear.
"Everything will be fine, Eli." James smiled again as he covered the girl.
Eli looked at James and held her hand, Eli felt safe. She didn't really know James, but being around him all her fears seemed to disappear. She began to close her eyes slowly as drowsiness began to attack.
"Good night." James said softly, he couldn't move, the girl was holding his clothes as a sign that she didn't want to be left alone even for a minute.