Edgeworth went to his room, knelt down and began to pray. He really hope there was a miracle that Phoenix can be cured, and he asked for the strength to God to be able to take care of Phoenix patiently. Afterwards, feeling very tired and with sadness in his heart, Edgeworth went to bed.
When morning came, Phoenix came into his room and shook Edgeworth's body with a little rough. Wiping his eyes, Edgeworth finally awoke.
"H-hello, Wright, what's wrong?" asked Edgeworth.
"Morning, Papa! It's already morning! Papa had to wake up! Feenie hungry!"
"Oh...right. You didn't eat anything yesterday... Sorry, I forgot, Wright. What do you want to eat?" asked Edgeworth softly.
Clapping his hands, and jumping a little, Phoenix replied, "Feenie want milk! Feenie want bread!"
"Alright, I'll prepare it for you. Wait here, okay, Wright?" whispered Edgeworth. Then he got out of bed, stroked Phoenix's hair affectionately, and walked into the kitchen. Once finished preparing bread and milk for Phoenix, Edgeworth returned to his room, and what a shock to Edgeworth when he saw Phoenix was doodling on his bedroom walls with markers. The entire wall of his room now was filled with the words "Feenie" and "Papa" irregular.
"WRIGHT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" shouted Edgeworth loudly, failed to suppress his voice. Phoenix turned and smiled innocently.
"Feenie can write! Feenie want to make Papa's room more beautiful! Beautiful, isn't it, Papa? Feenie can write!"
"Oh my goodness..." Edgeworth heaved a deep breath and closed his eyes. Hold, Edgeworth…. You can't get mad at him... Remember... He suffered severe brain damage, and it's all your fault! You have to be patient!
Edgeworth eventually forced a smile. "Yeah, great, Wright, you're smart. Eh, it's breakfast time, okay? Aren't you hungry? Come on ...We breakfast in the dining room, okay?" He murmured as he held out his hand. Still smiling, Phoenix welcomes his hand and they walked toward the dining room.
In the dining room, Phoenix ate very messy. His mouth was covered with brown butter, bread flakes scattered everywhere at the dinner table. As he drank his milk, half milk spilled onto the front of his shirt and onto the floor.
"Feenie full! Feenie want to play outside! Come on, we play outside, Papa!" cried Phoenix after completely finished his breakfast.
"Okay, Wright, but you have to shower first and change your clothes ... You're very dirty ... Papa also has to clean up your scattered food ..." sighed Edgeworth. Hearing the word "bath", suddenly Phoenix wriggles in his seat and banging the table.
"Feenie don't to shower! Feenie don't want to shower! Feenie want to play! Feenie want to play outside!" shouted Phoenix, half crying, while he kept banging the table.
"Wright! Quiet! You need a bath! You can't go out with dirty clothes like that!" Edgeworth pressed Phoenix's chest harshly, try to calm him down. But it failed. Phoenix now go down from his seat, and tried to throw the house stuff.
"Feenie don't want to! Feenie don't want to shower! Feenie want to play! Want to play!" Phoenix trying to throw a vase. Edgeworth gripping Phoenix belly.
"Don't, Wright! That vase was very expensive! Oh, Jesus..."
"Feenie want to play! PLAY!" Phoenix shouted again, and now trying to throw Edgeworth's laptop and cell phone that lies on the TV table. Edgeworth felt his patience was completely gone now. Without he can hold himself, he pinched Phoenix's shoulder harshly, making Phoenix sobbed in a heartbeat.
"Papa pinched Feenie! Papa cruel!"
"S-sorry, Wright...I didn't realize it...sorry…. I lost my control." Edgeworth muttered resignedly. He then caressed Phoenix's hair again. "F-forgive p-papa, okay ? If you want to take a bath, later p-papa will invite you to eat ice cream and buy toys, how it sounds, Wright?"
Phoenix's tears subsided, and he smiled again. "Alright, Papa! Feenie will take a bath!"
Smiling with relief, Edgeworth leads Phoenix to the bathroom. "Eh...you can bathe by yourself, isn't it, Wright?" asked Edgeworth nervously. Certainly it wasn't going to fun if he had to bathe Phoenix. What a relief to Edgeworth as Phoenix nodded with vigor.
"Yes, Papa! Feenie can bathe by myself!"
"Then, take a bath now. After that we go to supermarket to buy ice cream and toys, how?"
"Alright, Papa! But Papa waits outside! Feenie afraid if in the bathroom, Papa didn't wait outside!"
"Okay, I'll wait for you while you take a bath in the bathroom doorway. Now, go wash up, son," whispered Edgeworth, then he surprised by his own words. What did he just said? He just called Phoenix as son ...
Phoenix took a shower, and outside of the bathroom, Edgeworth can heard Phoenix sing a variety of children's songs such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Are You Sleeping Brother John, Did You Ever See A Lassie, etc. While listening to Phoenix singing, Edgeworth's tears fall again.
Is this how it's like to be a father? Can I face all of this? Am I strong enough to through this? Oh God please give me... An unlimited patience... Because these are purely my fault and my sin, O Lord ...
After waiting for almost half an hour, Phoenix finally came out of the bathroom and looked delighted.
"Papa, Feenie ready! Feenie wants to eat ice cream and buy a toy!"
"Come on, Wright, we go to my car," Edgeworth murmured, leading Phoenix walked to his car, and they go to the nearest supermarket.
In supermarket, Phoenix did not stop laughing and singing with joy, make some people look at him with pity, and some people laughed at him silently. Inevitably, Edgeworth felt a little embarrassed.
"Papa, Feenie want this! Feenie want this ice cream!" cried Phoenix as he pointing blueberry ice cream which displayed in the freezer. "May Feenie take two, Papa?"
Some supermarket visitors turned toward them and whispering.
"Isn't that Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth, the most famous lawyer in this country?"
"100%. That spiky hair and that cravat… Can't be wrong."
"Why Mr. Wright is acting very strange like that? Why did he call Mr. Edgeworth 'Papa?"
"From what I heard, Mr. Edgeworth hit Mr. Wright with his car, make Mr. Wright's head collided with street, and because of that, he suffered severe brain damage... That's why Mr. Wright acting weird like that ... "
"Gosh, what a pity ... How could Mr. Edgeworth make Mr. Wright hurt like that... Aren't they a good friend?"
Edgeworth trying to ignore the supermarket visitors whispers, and holding Phoenix's hands.
"Take as much ice cream as you want, Wright," Edgeworth whispered, his voice wavering now. Phoenix jumped happily, and kissed Edgeworth's cheeks.
"Thank you, Papa! Feenie loves Papa! "
Some visitors chuckle to hear Phoenix words, but stopped when Edgeworth glared at them. Phoenix took a basket full of ice cream, after Edgeworth paid for the ice cream, he invited Phoenix to the toy store.
"Take any toy that you want, Wright," Edgeworth murmured. Phoenix laughed with joy. He started taking all kinds of toys, from puzzles, story books, balls, robotics, cars, and Barbie...?
Edgeworth's brow furrowed as he saw Phoenix take some Barbie dolls.
"Wright, what did you take?"
"Barbie! Feenie like Barbie dolls! Feenie wants to play Barbie dolls with Papa!" Phoenix replied innocently. He then waving the Barbie dolls in front of Edgeworth's face. Some of the visitors giggled. Edgeworth felt his face was red now.
"Put the dolls back on the shelf, Wright. Gosh. You're a man, and a man didn't play Barbie dolls."
"Papa says Feenie may take any toys that Feenie want! Why Feenie can't take Barbie dolls, too?"
"Because you can't! You're a boy, Wright! Put it back on the shelf!" snapped Edgeworth, felt very uncomfortable because now almost all the store visitors watching them with interest. The situation was getting worse for Edgeworth because suddenly Phoenix slumped to the floor, struggling and whimpering.
"FEENIE WANT BARBIE! FEENIE WANT BARBIE! PAPA NAUGHTY! UWAAAAAAA !" Phoenix sobbing on the floor. Now all the store visitors laughing. Edgeworth was very upset and very embarrassed. At that time he forgot that Phoenix was not himself, he forgot that it was him who made Phoenix become like that. With full of anger, Edgeworth raised Phoenix from the floor harshly, hit his head and tweak his ears.
"Let's go home now!" shouted Edgeworth. He then dragged Phoenix to his car, accompanied by laughter from the store visitors and Phoenix's whimpering.
"Go to your room! And don't make any disturbing noise again!" cried Edgeworth when they got home. Still sobbing, Phoenix went into his room and didn't speak anything again.
Edgeworth sit on the couch, and grabbed his hair. Then he finally realized what he had done. Oh God… what have I done ? I yell at him! I dragged him! I hit him! Tweaked his ear! Oh God…...I really wasn't aware... Please forgive me, Wright!
Edgeworth rose from the couch and step into Phoenix room. Phoenix looked had fallen asleep, and he struggled in his sleep.
"Wright?" Edgeworth calling softly as he sat on Phoenix's bed.
"Feenie want a Barbie doll! Feenie want to play Barbie with papa! Papa evil! Papa hit Feenie! Uwaaaaaaaaaa!" Phoenix delirious endlessly.
"Wright, calm down, I really didn't aware when I do that ... I'm sorry, Wright ..." whispered Edgeworth, trying to hug Phoenix, but shortly after, he grimaced. Jeez…...his body hot as hell!
Frantically, he ran to take a thermometer and measure Phoenix's body temperature. He accidentally dropped the thermometer when he saw Phoenix body temperature. 110!
Phoenix opened his eyes. He screamed again when he saw Edgeworth. "Papa evil! Papa evil! Papa nasty ! Papa hit Feenie!" He cried repeatedly.
"Wright, I beg you to calm down, you make me worry-"
"Papa evil! Evil! Nasty!" Phoenix scream contionously..
Panic, and worry, Edgeworth pulled out his phone to call Dr. Vincenzo.
"Hello, with whom am I speaking?" Doctor Vincenzo's voice sounded sleepy.
"Doctor Vincenzo, I'm really sorry to have bothered you. This is Miles Edgeworth. You remember Phoenix Wright? One of your patients who suffering brain damage? And just a few days ago out of the hospital?"
"Yes, yes, of course. What's wrong with him, Mr. Edgeworth?"
"He has a very high fever, Doctor. His temperature is about 110 ... He kept screaming and delirious ... And I don't know what to do ... Can you come to my house to examine Wright?"
"Certainly, Mr. Edgeworth. Where do you live?"
Edgeworth told Doctor Vincenzo where his address, then hung up. Phoenix constantly cries "Papa evil" with his body covered in sweat, leaving Edgeworth sob in silence again.
Half an hour later, the bell rang. Edgeworth hastily opened the door. Doctor Vincenzo has come. Edgeworth shook Doctor Vincenzo hands, and invited him to get into Phoenix room.
Phoenix still lying in bed, his face and hair was very wet with sweat, and he still kept muttering and delirium endlessly. Doctor Vincenzo brushed Phoenix hair, then took a sedative while Edgeworth watching.
"Well, Doctor? Do I have to take him to the hospital? Why did he suddenly has a high fever like that?" Edgeworth asked anxiously. Doctor Vincenzo stared at him.
"Do you yell at him today, Mr. Edgeworth?"
Edgeworth was silent, feeling shocked. How could he possibly know? Oh, of course he knew…. He is a doctor...
Swallowed, Edgeworth nodded slowly. "Y-yes, Doctor...I lost my control. He whimpers and crying non stop when I took him to the supermarket today... And ... I failed to control my voice," He whispered.
Doctor Vincenzo shook his head vigorously, and let out a short breath.
"Mr. Edgeworth, you must know, patients who suffered severe brain damage will immediately have a high fever if they were being shouted at or treated roughly, because the nerves will experience shock and trauma. The more you often yelled at him, then he will be more frequent have a high fever, and it would be very risky to the nerves in the brain, and, can cause death, Mr. Edgeworth. If you can't take care Mr. Wright with patience, I suggest you handed him over to a nurse or an expert, or you can send him to stay in a special hospital for patients with brain damage. "
Edgeworth dumbfounded after hearing Doctor Vincenzo's words. Sending Wright to stay in a special hospital for patients with brain damage? No way! Of course I would not have the heart to do it! Wright does not have a parent, and he needed a comfortable home, with good food and good clothes. His place is here, in my house!
"Alright, Doctor. I promise I will take care of him with patience. You can trust me," said Edgeworth softly.
"Okay, Mr. Edgeworth. Here, I give you fever reducing medicine, you have to give him two times a day, to make Mr. Wright's fever goes down. Don't forget to compress his body as well. Anything else you want to discuss with me?" asked Dr. Vincenzo, while handing a prescription and drug packaging into Edgeworth's hands.
"N-no, Doctor. Thank you so much for your help."
"Alright then. If something happens again, don't hesitate to contact me, okay, Mr. Edgeworth? And remember, you must be patient with him. YOU MUST EXTRA PATIENT WITH HIM. Got it, Mr. Edgeworth?"
Edgeworth nodded slowly.
"Well, it's time for me to leave. See you later, Mr. Edgeworth." After they shake hands, Doctor Vincenzo left the house.
Edgeworth closed his eyes for a moment, and look towards Phoenix who now sleeping quietly, without delirious and thrashing again. His face was so peaceful, so innocent, so pure. Why I got the heart to yell and hit him like that? He's been suffering too much. I should diminish his suffering, not made him suffer more!
He then went to the bathroom to take a compress, and sat on Phoenix bed. Carefully, he lifted and put Phoenix's head on his lap. He compresses Phoenix's forehead, then stroking Phoenix's hair and cheek endlessly. Edgeworth didn't know how long he compresses Phoenix, probably more than two hours, when he checked Phoenix's body temperature back, Phoenix's body temperature had dropped to 102.
It was already evening when Phoenix awakened. "H-hello, Wright ... how do you feel? You sleep well?" asked Edgeworth, trying to force himself to smile. Phoenix's eyes turned to him. The spikey man sat and hugged him so tightly.
"Papa, Feenie apologize. Feenie make Papa angry. Feenie is a naughty boy!"
Smiling a little, Edgeworth hugged and stroked Phoenix's back gently.
"No, you're not a naughty boy, Wright. There's nothing to forgive. I am the one who should apologize. Forgive P-papa, okay? Forgive p-papa had shouted and hit you. W-will you forgive P-papa?" said Edgeworth stammered, his eyes stinging with tears.
Phoenix nodded with vigor as he clapped his hands again. "Feenie loves Papa! Feenie loves Papa! Is Papa loves Feenie too?"
"Y-yes, Wright, P-papa love you."
-TO BE CONTINUED-