Hobin had changed into a white coat which was customary for the doctors in the hospital. It was not mandatory for psychiatrists but since it was his first day at the hospital, he wanted to wear the coat out of habit. He picked up the file of his first patient of the day.

His office had been carefully set up as per his specific needs. Instead of the usual white walls, he had opted for a soothing blue paint which was pleasing to the eyes. There was a miniature Japanese style bamboo fountain at one corner which made sounds of running water. This sound was associated with peace, making the patients relaxed. Moreover, Hobin had put subtle aromatic scents for the patients so that their subconscious sense of smell would make them feel at home and help them to open up their worries. ​​

He had hung pictures of abstract art on the walls with very intricate brushstrokes and detailed coloring which would make the patients feel at ease whenever they looked at them. A cosy fireplace was built right next to the patient’s couch, designed to give them a more homely environment. There was a small bookshelf right next to the patient’s couch which were mainly fiction and non-fiction books from famous authors who tackled issues on mental health. The lighting of the room was kept to a minimum during the day. For patients who were children, Hobin had candies, cookies, coloring books and games stacked away inside a shelf.

“Everything is perfect!” he beamed. “Now for the next patient…”

He read the file in his hand.

“Jung Haeji,” he murmured. He pressed the intercom to address the nurse outside.

“Please let my next patient in,” he said.

“Yes doctor.”

A few seconds later, a jovial man in his fifties entered the office with a girl of about nine or ten years old. The man was tall and slim with a friendly face and kind demeanor. The girl was quiet, looking down as she held the man’s hand. Her hair was tied in a ponytail and she carried a pink backpack on her shoulders.

“Hello Doctor,” the man greeted Hobin. “My name is Heo Namgoong. I’m the owner of the local orphanage here. And this is one of the kids at the orphanage, Jung Haeji.”

“Please sit,” Hobin stated. He noted that Haeji was very demure, not talking nor addressing him. She sat on the chair opposite to his desk, not taking off her bag.

The child is defensive, Hobin concluded. As part of his job, he observed every little thing of his patients. Things like not letting go of their bags or crossing their arms were small signs of the patient being hostile or unwilling to talk.

Namgoong sighed at Haeji’s behavior. “Please don’t mind her,” he said. “She’s in some kind of shock. We’ve tried everything but she can’t seem to come out of it.”

“What happened?” Hobin asked.

“She…she used to be a talkative child,” Namgoong recalled. “But for the past few weeks, she hasn’t been talking at all. Once a lively child, she seemed to have lost her voice. We took her to the doctor and he said that physically she was fine but it seems that she has been affected by something. One of my friends mentioned to me that a world famous psychiatrist had come to town so I booked an early appointment with you.”

Hobin picked up a bowl of chocolate and held it in front of Haeji. She stared at it with blank eyes.

“Do you like chocolates?” Hobin asked in a gentle tone. The girl did not reply at all.

“Haeji, the good doctor is asking you something,” Namgoong nudged but Haeji only shied away. She took a glance at Hobin and hid behind Namgoong’s arm, trying to shield herself.

Trauma. There was no doubt that the girl was heavily traumatized by something and was too scared to talk.

“I’ll have to take a look at her medical history,” Hobin explained. “Did she have any past accidents or head injuries? A very horrible memory, perhaps?”

“Not that I know of but I’ll ask the matron,” Namgoong replied. “Haeji was supposed to be adopted by a good family this month and they have requested me to have her thoroughly psychoanalysed. I’d have done it anyway but…”

Namgoong sadly trailed off. “My orphanage is in a poor state,” he admitted. “We don’t have the funds to have the children tested every month but we try our best. The donors are also stopping their contributions. Besides, Haeji is our best student. She used to smile a lot and the other children felt very much at peace around her. Seeing her like this is really disheartening. Thankfully, her new parents have offered to pay for the medical services. They’re currently in the process of shifting to a new house and will move there within the next two weeks. So Haeji will join them in their new home soon.”

He flashed a smile at Haeji who was quiet but returned his smile. Hobin also smiled at Haeji, making her blush a little.

“With proper counseling, she’ll start to come out of her shell,” Hobin stated. “I’ll book an appointment for tomorrow. If she comes everyday, we can make good progress and help her talk again. In the meantime, keep her in a stress free state. Try not to scold her and be patient with her. Keep an eye on her diet as well. And also, tell the other children to involve her in their games as much as possible.”

Namgoong nodded as Hobin wrote down a routine for Haeji to follow. He handed the chart to Namgoong before picking up a rose from a vase and offering it to Haeji. The little girl blinked at the flower then at the handsome doctor.

“You don’t like chocolates but I noticed you were staring at the rose,” he smiled. “You like roses?”

The girl slowly nodded and silently accepted the flower. Her cheeks were still red as a tomato and she dared not to look at Hobin again.

“Thank you doctor,” Namgoong said, feeling grateful. “Let’s go, Haeji.”

Haeji nodded. Namgoong took Haeji’s hand and was leading her out of the door. As soon as Haeji’s back was turned, something shone on her backpack. It was the sticker of a smiling sun, the same one he had seen in the waitress’ memory about the deceased child.

“That’s a nice sticker,” Hobin commented. “Where did you buy it from? I’m thinking of getting some for my patients who are kids.”

“This?” Namgoong frowned. “I think one of our donors gifted them to our children. These were limited edition stickers though. I can ask them if they have more.”

“Thanks,” Hobin said with a smile. He watched them leave with a meaningful look on his face.

….

Cars sped past the road at alarming speed, honking away. The whole street was buzzing with vehicles and people who were busy getting on with their lives. They were either talking on the phone or rushing to get to their destinations, oblivious to everything else.

The buildings on that street were not very big but cluttered together, making the place more congested. There were a few carts selling fruits and vegetables for the locals. Some women were haggling with the sellers about the prices, their loud voices clear over the numerous other sounds of the street.

On that busy street, a pale figure was sitting between two buildings, his head on his knees. No one could see nor hear him because he was invisible to their eyes. The little boy was hardly ten and scared of the world he had stepped into. No one paid any attention to him and he was confused by the turn of events. He tried to grab the attention of some people but they would not even glance his way. It was as if he was nothing but air.

“Help me…” he moaned in dismay. “Please…”

A shadow fell on him. He looked up to see a brown haired woman staring at him with pitiful eyes.

“If you need help, then follow me,” she gently said. “Only I can see and hear you.”

She spoke in a low but clear tone. Some people walked by, whispering at the strange woman who was seemingly talking to herself but Jina did not care. There were far pressing matters in hand.

“Why?” the boy asked. “Why can’t they see me?”

“I’ll tell you everything,” Jina promised. “For now, follow me.”