The little girl’s expression changed, but she didn’t turn away. Instead, she looked directly at Cassia.
‘You two look as if you’re having fun.’
The little girl nodded.
Sophia grabbed Cassia’s hand and squeezed it. ‘Still no words,’ she whispered.
* * *
Eléni continued to improve over the next few weeks. The bruises faded and the splint was taken off her arm. But she’d still not uttered a word. All communication on Eléni’s part was carried out by miming actions, a nodding and shaking of the head, and her facial expressions. Sophia spent the days at her bedside, making up stories about animals for her to enjoy. Whenever she was not needed at the centre, Cassia sat with Sophia and Eléni. They both talked to Eléni even though she couldn’t answer them. Instead, Cassia learned to know Eléni’s emotions and needs by reading what the little girl’s eyes told her. She realised it would only be a matter of time before the doctors said the little girl was well enough to leave, now that her physical injuries were healing and she was out of danger.But wherewould she go? Where would any of them go?Still, no family member had claimed her, and Sophia was sure no one would.
Tom visited Eléni each night and marvelled at the progress she had made with Sophia’s help. The child welcomed him with smiles now, too. But still, she didn’t speak. One night, he brought her some paper and a pencil from the ship.
‘The ship — it is where I live.’ Tom drew a simple boat shape, surrounded by wavy lines representing the sea. He handed her the pile of paper. ‘Now, you.’
Eléni smiled and began to draw four stick figures. Holding up the paper, she pointed first at each figure in turn and then at the person the drawing represented.
Tom beamed at her. ‘Good girl. That is very good. Here.’ He took the sketch from her and pointed to the first figure. ‘Sophia?’ The little girl nodded. Tom wrote the name underneath. ‘Me?’ He labelled the second figure. ‘Tom.’ The drawing was completed once he’d writtenCassiaandEléni. He handed the paper back to her. She held it up for the others to admire.
Cassia looked at Tom. ‘How do you say — genius, I think?’
Chapter Five
The three of them stood to leave Eléni for the night when they were approached by a doctor they hadn’t seen before. ‘Can you call in to see me before you go,parakaló?’
‘Kalinýchta, agápi mou.’ Sophia kissed Eléni. ‘I will see you tomorrow.’
The little girl waved as they left.
The doctor waited for them as they walked the length of the ward.
‘Efcharistó,I’m sure you can see your daughter and your granddaughter has now recovered from her injuries. We can do no more for her here. We must use her bed if someone comes in who needs it.’
Tom looked to Cassia before she began speaking. ‘Her body, it is healed, yes. But she does not speak. There must be something more you can do for her. We do not have a home. We live under a shelter. It is not good for her, eh?’ Panic sounded in her voice. It was the day she had dreaded.
The doctor shook his head. ‘She is clearly not deaf. She has suffered a trauma from the earthquake. She chooses not to speak. Did she ever speak before? She isn’t very old. Two or three, maybe?’
Sophia spoke for them. ‘She’s three. Yes, she could speak before this awful tragedy happened. She must have seen...’
Before she could finish her sentence, Cassia butted in. ‘Isn’t there a medical person who could help?’
‘Normally, there would be, but times are not normal. They would have been able to help with the night terrors, too.’
‘What do you mean? Night terrors?’
‘You are not here in the night. You must prepare yourself. Eléni wakes up screaming most nights. But they are getting less. She is soaked in sweat. Her eyes show she is terrified, and shecovers her head. If you say you cannot manage her, I can arrange for her to have a place with the authorities who are taking all the orphans. Otherwise, you must take her home tomorrow.’
Once outside the tent, Cassia began to cry. ‘We cannot let that happen. We can’t.’
Tom placed an arm around her shoulders. ‘We think of something, eh?’
Butwhatshe didn’t know.
Sophia was silent.
* * *
Cassia and Sophia watched Eléni drawing a picture. They had now been living back at the shelter for over a month. Cassia had given up her work at the centre to concentrate on getting the little girl settled and happy.
