Chapter 27. Will be Fine

A day after their father's funeral, Dylan brings Harper to a psychiatrist. Joshua and his father recommend her to do so. Given her behavior throughout the entire funeral, Harper is in dire need of professional assistance.

She accidentally heard when Joshua talked to his father, "Did she have Stockholm syndrome, Dad?"

The father, a wise and experienced professional doctor, places a comforting hand on Joshua's shoulder. "No, my son," he replies. "This is not a case of Stockholm syndrome. This is the anguish of a daughter who has endured a lifetime of abuse and neglect from the very person who was supposed to love her unconditionally."

He sighs deeply, his eyes reflecting the weight of understanding. "Harper has been trapped in a cycle of trauma, desperately seeking the affection and approval of a father who was incapable of providing it. His death, while final, does not erase the scars that have been etched into her soul."

Joshua listens intently, his brow furrowed with concern. "But how can she still be so affected by him? Shouldn't she be relieved that he's gone?"

The father shakes his head solemnly. "Healing from such deep-seated wounds is a complex and arduous process. Harper's reactions, as painful as they are to witness, are a testament to the profound impact her father's actions have had on her."

He turns his gaze to the heartbreaking scene unfolding before them, where Sophia continues to hold Harper, offering her unwavering support. "Even in the face of his cruelty, Harper still craved his love and acceptance. That desire, born of a fundamental human need, does not disappear simply because the source of her pain has been extinguished."

Joshua nods, his eyes now filled with a deeper understanding. "I see. It's not about Stockholm syndrome, but the lasting trauma of a lifetime of abuse."

"Exactly," the father affirms. "Harper's journey now is to find a way to heal, to reclaim the parts of herself that her father's actions have stolen. And with the support of those who truly care for her, she may one day find the strength to forge a future untethered by the shackles of her past."

Due to the traumatic events she's endured, Sophia has now brought a reluctant Harper to see a psychiatrist. The doctor's assessment comes as no surprise—they confirm that Harper is suffering from major depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

"Isn't PTSD only something that happens to military personnel?" Dylan asks the doctor, confused. "My sister isn't in the military."

The doctor patiently explains, "PTSD isn't just for those in the military. It can affect anyone who has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, series of events, or set of circumstances that are emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening. This can impact a person's mental, physical, social, and/or spiritual well-being. Examples include natural disasters, serious accidents, terrorist acts, war/combat, rape/sexual assault, historical trauma, intimate partner or even parental violence, and bullying."

The doctor gives Harper a gentle smile. "Your sister has just survived her own personal war. When your father died, that's what ended her long-time war. This is what's triggering her PTSD."

Dylan asks worriedly, "Will she be okay?"

"Of course," the doctor reassures. "With proper treatment, she can recover. I'm positive about it."

The doctor then turns to Harper. "What do you want, Harper? Are you willing to undergo the necessary treatment?"

Harper takes a deep breath. "I do. I know I need help. I'm willing to get help."

Relieved, Dylan asks the doctor, "Can you recommend a good psychiatrist in Germany, possibly in Berlin?"

Harper stares at her sister, but Dylan has already made up her mind. She wants Harper to be close to her while she undergoes therapy. The doctor recommended them to one of his friends in Berlin, Lena Müller.

After the session with the psychiatrist, the two sisters take their time to have a nice chat in a cosy coffee shop. Dylan wants Harper to take a break from her work for a little while, maybe a year or two, before she goes back to sea. Dylan doesn't want Harper to have another episode while she's far away or surrounded by people she doesn't know.

"I'd rather have you hate me, but be close to me, so I know you're okay," Dylan says.

"I'm not hating you, Dylan. I said I agree with it," Harper responds. "Give me the clinical results from the doctor so I can give them to my HR and see if I can get out without a two-week or a month's notice."

"Did you just talk to me in English?" Dylan asks again.

"I did. I think you also need professional help," Harper says, mocking her sister.

The two of them laugh and continue to eat their cakes and drink their coffee. For now, they will head back to their childhood home to face their mother and whatever she has to say about this.

"Maybe she can tell me who my real father is." Harper chuckles, but she can't stop her tears from flowing. "Fuck."

-

Sophia and Joshua decide not to tell Rachel about Harper's condition. They also instruct their parents not to discuss it, just in case Rachel calls them. Rachel has worked hard and overcome many difficulties to achieve her current success, and they don't want anything to jeopardise that.

So, when Rachel emails them at night and asks about Harper, Sophia and Joshua send a few pictures from the funeral. "Is Harper okay?" Rachel enquires.

"She's fine, Rachel. She's grieving, so she's not okay right now. But she'll be okay after all this is over. You don't have to worry about that," Sophia replies.

"I have a feeling that she's not okay, unnie. Don't lie to me," Rachel says, invoking the strong bond she shares with Harper, as if they were twins.

"She's fine, Rachel. You can ask her later, and you can ask Mom and Dad. They're there too, and so is Dylan. They'll all say the same thing," Sophia responds, starting to get annoyed.

"Well, if you say so, I trust you," Rachel replies after receiving Sophia's messages. "I'll send her my condolences and ask her later."

"You do that," Sophia says shortly, not because she's upset but because she's thinking about whom she should call to ensure that everyone will tell Rachel that Harper is fine.

Sophia and Joshua understand that keeping the truth from Rachel requires a careful strategy. They want to protect their friend's privacy and recovery, but they also don't want to jeopardise Rachel's own hard-won success. They have to make a tough choice, but they think it's the best thing to do until Harper is ready to face the world again.

As for now, both of them are only going to ruin each other. Rachel just started her career, and Harper will need all the time she has to recover from whatever she has been experiencing all this time. The siblings exchange a silent, worried look, both acknowledging the seriousness of the situation and the weight of the responsibility they've taken on.

Fortunately for Sophia, she remembers that she had exchanged business cards with Dylan, Harper's older sister. When she contacts Dylan, she finds that they have the same thought.

Dylan will bring Harper back to Germany to undergo treatment to address her mental health issues, and they definitely don't need to worry about anything else besides Harper's full recovery. They both agree that separating Harper and Rachel for a while is the best course of action.

"I'll talk to Harper and make sure she fully focusses on her treatment. I'll tell her that she doesn't want to jeopardise Rachel's career with all the burdens she's having now," Dylan says.

"And I'll talk to Rachel; explain that Harper is at sea most of the time and will be focussing on her career. That way, both of them can focus on themselves for a bit," Sophia responds.

"Yeah, that would be better," Dylan agrees. "I need her to recover and reconnect with herself first."

Sophia sounds worried as she asks, "Will she be okay? Can I visit her sometimes?"

"Sure, I'll give you the address later. And she'll be fine; she's a strong girl, a survivor," Dylan says, a hint of pride in her voice.

"Thank you, Dylan. I promise I'll visit her, and thanks for the information," Sophia says before they end the call.

"Is that Sophia?" Harper asks when Dylan hangs up the phone.

"Yes, and Harper, the least you need in your life right now is Rachel. You don't want to be a burden to her; she has enough on her plate. Focus on yourself first, and you can reconnect with her anytime in the future, once you're better," Dylan says in a stern voice, leaving no room for Harper to argue.

"Okay" is the only word Harper can muster.

"Good. You need to remember that when she calls you later. We'll be back in Berlin next week, after we finish dealing with your workplace," Dylan tells Harper. "Look, I'm not trying to separate you and Rachel, but you need to recover; you need to fix yourself. And you don't need this burden to be Rachel's, right?"

"Yeah, I don't want her to be burdened with anything but her own future," Harper says softly, understanding.

"Then you know what you should do?" Dylan asks again.

"Focus on myself," Harper answers. Dylan smiles at her and lovingly pats her head.

"I love you, Harpie," she tells her little sister, using the nickname she's always used.

"Love you too, Didi," Harper smiles, returning the nickname.