Chapter Three

[Aurora’s POV]

I'm the only child of my parents.

Since they died, it was only right that I inherited their property—and their problems. Their problems? What else if not their worthless families. They've tried to make my life difficult in this town but of course I'd fight back.

The house is actually a modern hut. It has two bedrooms, a living room, a toilet, and a kitchen. Nothing extra. Just simple decor.

The walls are painted with a mixture of green and white. It might seem like an odd combination, but there's a reason behind it.

Most of my work happens here.

I don't need a fancy office or some huge building to do what I love. As long as my patients feel safe and comfortable,and they heal that's all that mattered to me.

Right now, we're standing at the entrance of the second room, which happens to be closer to my bedroom.

I took a deep breath. I was expecting some sort of chaos. Maybe screaming. Maybe something broken. Maybe Racheal trying to escape again. But it was completely quiet. I breathed out in relief. Ella could really exaggerate sometimes. She gestured for me to enter first before following behind me. She had actually been living with me for sometime even though she had parents, we were practically sisters.

The moment I stepped inside, my eyes immediately landed on my patient. She was sitting quietly on the bed.

Calm.

Well-behaved.

Unlike yesterday.

I smiled. "Mrs. Racheal?" At the sound of her name, she slowly raised her head. Then she looked directly at me.

I froze.

No way. Tears began to for in my eyes.

"Do you remember me?"I asked, taking a careful step closer. "I mean… do you know who I am?" She nodded.

My heart skipped.

Finally. I couldn't believe this but I could.

After two months of treatment, she had finally made significant progress. Faster than my other patients.

Mrs. Racheal had been brought to me after suffering from a serious condition that affected her memory, behavior, and ability to recognize the people around her. She had forgotten almost everyone she loved. Even herself. Her personality had completely changed.

When her family first brought her to me, I'd insisted that she be treated in her own home while I made daily visits for her therapy and treatment.

They disagreed. They were terrified of having her stay with them. They were worried about what people would say and how her behavior would affect their reputation.

And honestly, I understood why. But they were extreme.

Racheal had become extremely unpredictable. She was violent at times, constantly causing trouble, and always trying to run away whenever she got the chance. There was even a time she took a child from the neighborhood and hid her, insisting that the little girl was her daughter.

The strange part?

Her actual daughter was always around her. Racheal simply couldn't recognize her. It was heartbreaking.

Her family had tried everything. But nothing seemed to work. The cause of her condition was still unclear.

There were theories. There were tests. But no definite answer. And now, for the first time, she could finally remember. She could tell me what happened. I glanced at Ella.

She was already looking at me with the biggest smile on her face.

Not now I guess. I couldn't help but smile back.

What would I do without her? Even though she'd put on that ridiculous act earlier just to scare me.

I'd never doubted my skills.

Okay...

Maybe I had. Just a little.

And it was all Ella's fault.

I moved closer to Racheal. "How are you feeling?"

I reached out and gently placed the back of my hand against her forehead, checking her temperature.

"I feel better," she replied. Her voice was calm. Then she reached out and held my hands.

"Miss Aurora, I apologize for all the trouble I've caused, and thank you for not giving up on me." She smiled genuinely. I smiled back.

"You don't have to apologize,” I said softly. “You weren't yourself." Her eyes became slightly watery. "I remember some things now." I squeezed her hands gently.

"That's a good sign. Don't force yourself to remember everything at once. It will come back gradually."

She nodded.

There were other times when Racheal had caused serious problems.

People had told me to restrain her.

Some even suggested locking her in a room whenever she became violent.

There had been occasions when I'd taken her out for therapy, only for her to escape into town and damage people's property.

But how could I treat a sick person by chaining her down? She wasn't a monster. She was sick. She needed patience. She needed to be reminded that she was loved. So that's what I did. I reminded her of the people who loved her. I repeated stories from her past. I showed her old photographs. I talked to her about memories she had forgotten. I reminded her of who she was, little by little.

I'd learned most of those things from my parents. They had taught me that sometimes, treating someone wasn't simply about medication or giving instructions. Sometimes, it was about understanding the person beneath the illness.

May their souls rest in peace.

If they hadn't taught me what they knew, I probably wouldn't have become the therapist I am today. My methods were different. They weren't conventional. But they worked.

"Aurora." Ella's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I blinked and looked at her.

"Hmm?" She smiled. I turned back to Racheal.

"It's okay. It's my job." I shrugged.

After all, I get paid for it.

"Right?" Ella rolled her eyes, clearly knowing exactly what I was thinking about. I smiled.

For the first time in months, the room felt peaceful. I'd have to call her family and tell them about her recovery. Once again, I was the reason for a family's celebration. And honestly, that feeling never got old.

Seeing someone regain a part of themselves after struggling for so long was one of the reasons I loved what I did.

But...

Could I have just one patient-free year? Maybe two? I needed a break.

A proper one. A vacation. No emergencies. No patients screaming at three in the morning. No escaping patients. No broken furniture. No family members calling me every five minutes.

Just me. Peace. Silence.