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Chapter 0616
The movements Nichs made seemed natural and affectionate to others. I couldn''t help but curse under my breath, thinking that Nichs was good at nothing but putting on a show.
Instinctively, I stepped away from him, putting some distance between us as I touched my flushed cheeks.
Upon seeing this, the doctor quickly took me into the first examination room.
Since I had mentioned Tabitha''s anxiety in crowded settings, the room was kept rtively empty. Besides the doctor, only Nichs, a nurse, and I remained. The session began with a series of questions aimed at interacting with Tabitha.
The questions were engaging at first, designed to draw her attention. She responded with nods and shakes of her head initially, but her interest quickly faded.
Soon, it was as if she no longer realized the doctor was speaking to her. Her thoughts drifted elsewhere, her focuspletely lost.
I stepped in to guide her, trying my best to redirect her attention. After what felt like an eternity, the questioning ended. The doctor handed us a customized evaluation form for Tabitha toplete.
As I watched her work through it, my heart felt heavy. This evaluation would more or less confirm the extent of her autism. It didn''t matter how mild or severe it was, my little girl was officially a child with autism.
Nichs noticed my effort to hold back tears. Gently, he patted my shoulder and silently stayed by my side.
The memory of those lonely years abroad, carrying Tabitha from hospital to hospital, suddenly overwhelmed me. A bitter feeling welled up inside me.
I handed Tabitha over to Nichs and stepped out to collect myself before returning. When I came back, Nichs was watching me, his brows furrowed in concern.
"I''m fine," I mouthed silently. As a mother, I couldn''t afford to crumble. I had to be stronger for her.
The nurse typed quickly on herputer, finalizing the session. Soon, she handed me a printed report detailing Tabitha''s social interactions,nguage development, and behavioral patterns.
Next, Tabitha was taken into a special room designed as a simted environment. The doctor observed her reactions through a ss partition as she explored the unfamiliar surroundings alone. Then, they sent in strangers to interact with her.
There was barely time to breathe before she was moved into another room filled withrge, imposing machines. Tabitha seemed so smallpared to the equipment.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.
The wires enveloped her little body as maic patches were ced on her skin. Doctors began another round of guided questioning.
Suddenly, Tabitha raised her tiny arms as if to resist. It was obvious that she was ufortable, and I was about to rush in when Nichs held me from behind.
"Don''t go. Tabitha will have to go through this sooner orter. She can do it," he said, his arms tightening around my waist.
As soon as he finished speaking, Tabitha''s small arm was held down by the doctor, and she stopped struggling. "She''s just a child..." My voice broke, choked with tears. The pain was unbearable, like a de slicing through my chest.
"It hurts me too," Nichs said.
The process was undoubtedly professional, but the sheer harshness of it left me in tears.
My sorrow spilled out uncontrobly as I leaned against the ss door, calling out to Tabitha despite knowing she might not hear me.
"Tabitha, Mommy''s here! Just a little longer, sweetheart! You''re so brave. Just hold on a bit more!
"It hurts me to see you like this." Nichs put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his embrace.
"Everything will be fine, Tabitha isn''t showing any extreme resistance, which is a good sign."
"How can I not worry? I don''t know if Tabitha is really not resistant or if she''s suppressing her difort because she can''t express it! She was just struggling!"
The emotions I''d been holding back erupted. I turned around and bit down hard on Nichs'' arm. It was all his fault. If it weren''t for him, Tabitha wouldn''t have to go through so much pain.