Divorce Anxiety (Kathleen and Samuel)

Kathleen turned and looked at the guy walking toward her and asked, “You are Federick Evans?”

Federick smiled and said, “Yes, it’s me. It’s been a long time, Kathleen.”

Federick was Kathleen’s neighbor.

After her parents passed away and she moved into the Macari residence, she seldom met Federick.

Kathleen was surprised. “Federick, what are you doing here?”

Federick’s face looked sorrowful. He said, “My daughter is here.”

His daughter?

Kathleen was taken aback. “Federick, is your daughter…”

“Mid-level autism,” Federick said calmly, “I bring her here every week. What about you?”

Kathleen replied, “I’m here as a favor for Gemma, to do charity work.”

Federick got it and said, “Oh, so you are a friend of Gem.”

Kathleen reminded him that they should get going as she said, “Let’s go in.”

Federick made a sound of approval and nodded.

They went into the classroom which had a few autistic children in it.

They were all brought there by either their father or mother.

Kathleen learned that the biggest concern for most families with autistic children was that one of the parents could not stand the stress and chose to divorce or leave the family behind.

For instance, Federick’s wife was one of them.

When Madeline Evans was diagnosed with autism, her mother chose to divorce after she persisted for six months.

Madeline was five years old, and she was a cute little girl.

Nonetheless, because of autism, she did not react to the world around her and did not interact with people.

She sat in a corner quietly, holding a barbie doll in her hands.

Actually, most autistic children were quiet, as long as they were not provoked.

As they were quiet, they did not take the initiative to tell others what they wanted or when they were not feeling comfortable.

The parents brought their children there because the doctors were professional and would be able to help them.

“Madeline, do you want some water?” Federick got down next to Madeline and asked.

Madeline did not give any reaction to her father.

“Madeline, the doctor is going to come and examine you later. Let’s not yell at the doctor like last time, all right?” Federick asked.

did not show any

out

next to Madeline, she

she does

expectation, Madeline raised her hand

Federick was amazed.

“When the doctor is here, we will let the doctor examine you. After

then lowered

back to her usual state and being shut off from the outside world, he

how children

finally

Federick was dumbfounded.

overjoyed. “Pinky

her pinky finger

held her hand

you will let the

nodded with

filled with tears right

in a quavering voice, “Kathleen, she rarely reacts to things or people from the outside world. Besides me, this is

That’s wonderful.

that the treatment here is

that she was the special

to see him cry. “You are right. I’m content with her getting better little by little. I’ll be very happy if she can show a little bit of response to

a tissue to

off his tears. “I’m sorry to show

isn’t it?” asked Kathleen. She then said in a gentle tone, “As long as the kid stays safe

have her own baby, that

I just want my Madeline to be

in at that

the doctor

it was Madeline’s turn, the doctor asked,

She remained silent.

you,”

could see that the

scene last time during the examination which left an

knew it was normal for autistic patients, he was still

time that

are very

a huge

“Yes, she even responded to Kathleen when she spoke to her

at Kathleen and said, “You are new

am here on behalf of

she had a friendly smile. “We need someone like

Kathleen was stunned.

charity

smiled and said, “Okay, I’ll give it a

The doctor nodded.

kid sitting not far from Madeline