lucke's Conflicts

Chapter 20 : lucke's drepression

narrator narrating

Lucas was born into a family where, both on his mother's side and on his father's side, there were people with a history of depression and anxiety. A cousin of his mother, Nicole, had depression and committed suicide by throwing herself into a well. As for his father, Roberto, there was a great-uncle who had killed himself with a pellet gun. The most impressive thing about this whole story is that at the same age as Lucas, he seemed to be a faithful copy of the boy, from personality to gestures and even appearance.

Lucas began to show the first signs of depressive and anxious tendencies when he was six years old.
Inexplicably, he began pulling hairs from his head and tail. The parents watched the scene in agony, it was as if he didn't feel any pain. He bit his nails until they started to bleed and, again, it felt like he was numb.

His parents didn't quite understand the signs of what it was about and they fought for him to stop doing that. Lucas was even spanked to stop doing that, and after so much struggle, he stopped. But, the parents noticed that he got a little anxious and only the games calmed him down.

Narra Nicole

I don't know what's going on with this boy, he doesn't stop pulling the hair on his head and tail. He doesn't feel pain, he's even bleeding.

“ Oh, what agony. Cut it out, Lucas ,” I tell him.

“ I can't, ” he says.

" Stop it, " I say, showing him the slipper. Lucas stops, but afterwards, he still continues.

Look how ugly this is getting, his tail is mostly bare and he doesn't seem to care. What's going on with this boy, my God? Roberto and I are worried.

We have to take him to a psychologist — says Roberto — Maybe they'll solve the problem.

narrator narrating

Lucas's problem was already so visible that everyone was talking about it, even on the street Lucas plucked his hair in front of everyone, not caring what they thought. Lucas's tail was hairless at the end, looking like a mouse's tail.

Nicole was already ashamed to go out with him on the street, because that drew everyone's attention. Evil rumors even circulated that Lucas was suffering mistreatment. Lucas became the most talked about topic, everyone wanted to know what was happening to him.

narrator narrating

The next day

Roberto and Nicole decide to take Lucas to a psychologist. The building was beautiful, two stories, painted white, with glass windows and a garden with a small square in front. The three enter through the reception and are attended by a black cat who even sympathized with Lucas.

Oh, is he Lucas, your son you told me about?

" Yes ," said Roberto.

" He is very handsome ," said the cat, smiling.

Lucas returned the smile and she even rubbed his head with her hand, he liked the affection.

Your password is this, 123. You can sit in the armchairs, make yourself comfortable — said the cat.

The three sit in the last row. Lucas wouldn't sit still and while they were waiting to be called, he would sway and cross his legs and arms. He had a huge desire to pluck his hair, being prevented by Nicole and Roberto's disapproving looks. It didn't take long and another couple arrived at the reception, took the password and then sat in a seat in front of them, it was a cat with a fox and a little fox, their daughter.

The little fox's tail was all bruised and bare, and it had no hair on its chest. With concern, Nicole commented to Roberto:

Her case is more serious than Lucas's, I hope this passes soon — says Nicole.