Chapter 10
An earthquake is an interesting event. It shakes you to the core, and then it stops. But its impact is felt long after the earth ceases trembling. And unlike other natural disasters, there is no guarantee it is over when all is calm again. The fault planes may still be uneven and aftershocks may occur while you are trying desperately to return to normalcy.
Any hopes I had of remaining rooted in reality were shattered. The first time it happened, I pretended it wasn’t as disastrous as it truly was. Now there was no chance of overcoming it.
I still had two classes left in the day, but there was no way I could sit through them and not break down. I decided somewhat subconsciously to walk the 3 miles home.
I was in a daze. I got home just as my father was exiting his vehicle. He asked me what was wrong. I walked past him as if I didn’t even see him. I strolled start to my bedroom and passed out in my room.
When I awoke 4 hours later, my mother said she and my father were worried, to tell her what happened.
I was mute. Two times was too much for me to survive. I was as good as dead because I felt as if my very spirit was killed in James’ arms.
My parents were truly worried. The next day my mother dragged me to a fellow psychologist. A family friend that could squeeze me into his tight schedule, no charge. This did not help any. I was as quiet with him as I was with my family the previous night.
After all, he was another man I could not trust. I knew he would not understand how your heart could hurt so much that any pain your body endured paled in comparison. I knew no one would understand.