16 Aren't You Close To Me?

Mia lay in her bed thinking about earlier in the day when she asked Lucas about what he thought about her. Lucas told her that he didn't care about what happened and he is glad that she is okay.

Lucas never talked to her this way. Actually he never talked to her at all!

But remembering the way Lucas took care of her and consoled her, Mia's heart felt warm and her lips carried a soft smile to her sleep.

After school on friday Mia had her very first session with the school psychologist, Ms. Kelly. She was a very pretty lady in her early 30's.

"Hi Mia! How are you doing today?"

"I'm good, Ms. Kelly. Thank you!"

"Oh! Just be comfortable.

So, shall we start?"

"Sure"

"Okay! So, here are some questions which I want you to answer honestly. You can take your time but you have to be honest with me alright!"

"Yeah. Okay." Mia took a deep breath. This was going to be a bit difficult!

For a girl like Mia who used to keeping all her sadness, pain and fears hidden beneath her heart, opening up infront of Ms. Kelly even though she was going to be her psychologist was a great deal.

Mia: "It's done, Ms. Kelly."

Ms. Kelly: "Okay then. You can go home now. I'll see you on Monday then with your diagnosis."

Mia: "Hmm OK."

...

"So... what's the result? What did Ms. Kelly say?" Mark asked sitting beside Mia.

It was Monday already and after school Mia accompanied by Rachel went to see Ms. Kelly.

Mia sighed and closed her eyes laying her head back. So Rachel said,

"She's been diagnosed by Mild Depression and Haphephobia."

"Haphephobia! What's that?" Lucas asked.

"According to what Ms. Kelly said people with Haphephobia have a fear of being touched. In some cases, the fear is specific to only one gender, while in other cases like similar to Mia the fear relates to all people." Rachel explained.

Mark: "So that's why she gets so uncomfortable with all of us when we got close to her."

Rachel: "Yes."

Lucas queried, "Wait a sec. So what exactly happens in such phobia I mean the symptoms and treatment."

Mia opened her eyes and looked at Rachel who was replying to Lucas,

"Well, in the case of haphephobia, there's often a physical reaction to touch that may include panic attacks, nausea, hyperventilation, fainting, hives, heart palpitations as such.

Mia's body shows reactions like feeling nausea and heart palpitations.

Ms. Kelly says that she's experiencing initial stage of her phobia so from treatments like medication and exposure therapy, exposure therapy is much suited for her.

In this therapy with the help of a trained therapist Mia can be made comfortable with her fear of touch. And after repeated positive experiences through exposure may slowly change her negative emotions toward touch."

As Rachel finished Mark & Lucas's expressions were like totally lost. They looked at each other first and then at Rachel.

"Did you learned her diagnosis by heart? You didn't miss a word, did you?" Mark mocked her.

Lucas & Mia laughed.

"Hey! I was just telling you alright!" Rachel pouted and then they all laughed again.

After a bit more of mocking and teasing each other they calmed down and Lucas asked Mia,

"Did Ms. Kelly say anything else?"

Mia then said, "Apparently she has suggested me to keep this to myself or share this with only those who are close to me. With such a rare condition there might be some people who'd intend to take advantage of my fear that's why."

"She's right. Not everyone is good in this world. We should definitely keep this a secret from others." Mark said and Lucas & Rachel nodded in agreement.

...

In the evening Lucas was driving Mia home after Lily & Raphael were back from work.

When they reached outside her home Mia was about to step out of the car when Lucas said, "Mia..."

Mia turned around, "Yeah?"

Lucas was looking straight ahead then he looked at her, "Earlier you said, that about your phobia it must only be shared with people closest to you."

"What about that?"

Lucas cleared his throat, "Then... um...why'd you tell me?"

Mia looked at him solemnly as she asked him back, "Why? Aren't you close to me too?"

Before Lucas could say anything else Mia got out of the car, waved him goodbye and walked to her door.

Lucas watched her walk away and going in her house. His lips were curled up in a smooth smile as he drove away from her house, thinking about the question she asked him back.