If you have not read Lucita et al. Part 1, then you will not understand this post. This is a continuation of that said piece.
So when she recovered from that near death situation, she was brought back to the center to live with the head mistress. She joined the others in the recovery program, until she has regained enough consciousness to be able to decide to file VAWC, and that was what they had done. Medical records in place, and her affidavit of complaint. Soon after, the case followed through smoothly. Unfortunately, on the day of the trial, the common law husband fled and did not show up anymore. The children were left with the new common law wife who took upon herself the responsibility to feed them, until she too felt that it was too much to bear and left the children with the neighbors. They were taken to a government facility and Lucita’s 2 kids were later on requested to join her at the center while the other two, being that they are not hers, await the coming of their relatives to take them home.
With her children beside her, she was little by little picking up.. She still stares at walls but not as much as when she was first brought back from the hospital. Unfortunately, she is not as positive as all the others who she spends sessions with. Whenever group sharing takes place, she would always be silent and not a word would come out from her. Fun sessions or serious sessions, she has the same expression. If you look her in the eye, you will see nothing. And with that I wondered. It’s like she is no longer there in that very body that holds her spirit. It’s like, she’s emptied and no matter how much we try to reach out to her, to fill her with encouragement, with hope, she’s still empty. I can imagine filling water on a pail with a hole at the bottom. And what’s worse is that, to touch her is impossible for she is evasive to human touch and human connection. it would have been easier if she wasn’t. I wish I could do something more.. but I feel that all my knowledge and all the skill that I have remembered to use in the process seem futile….It’s like she has kept quiet for so long and she intends to keep quiet still– especially now that her case is on a stand-still. Her children, as young as they are, are suffering too. Mothers are supposed to be chatty and informative so children will be able to easily adapt and learn new things. Such silence may also hinder some growing and nurturing on the part of the children.
I am seeing them again next week. Till then, I would not know how things will become.
Lucita is just one of the many women who have suffered because of some stupid, selfish and arrogant man, who trampled and vexed her spirit. I may not understand how she is coping because of lack of communication, but I do know that encouraging her and giving her love and attention will change her little by little.. Well, I am sure we will go to that– sooner or later, but it will come.
