Sparrows
Legacy Name: Sparrows

Psychiatrist Dr. Alexandrine Volkova is notified of the boy upon his admittance at the Crisis Stabilisation Unit at Easings Hospital, but she doesn't meet him until later. At Easings, doctors are only assigned to newcomers when absolutely necessary; Dr. Volkova is one of their best, but she prefers not to be on the emergency team. There are others far more suited to that.
The boy seems calm, though (if a little erratic), so the nurses see him to his room and make sure he's settled. Dr. Volkova later hears of how they struggled with his paperwork; the boy doesn't respond to questions, doesn't seem to understand -- getting him to sign his own name is too much of a far cry, so one of the orderlies mocks it up. Dr. Volkova pretends she didn't hear that part: no one needs to know. It's obvious the poor boy needs psychiatric help - the fact that he cannot even understand even the simplest of questions only serves to prove that. Alexandrine Volkova loves her job, but what's one small rule break -- on the larger scale? It's for the boy's own good.

After the initial induction, Dr. Volkova learns that the boy's name is Addison Finchley, and that he is a bit of a mystery. He arrived alone at Easings -escorted only by an officer of the law who'd found him by the roadside - comprehending as a wild baby rabbit. Although his fingerprints lead the staff at Easings to his documents, they only contain his name, birthdate, and social security number; no record of parents, place of birth, or medical documents. The boy doesn't even respond to his own name.
Dr. Volkova's interest peaks at this point; it's been a while since she's had a challenge.

Their first meeting is roughly four days after Addison's admittance, and it goes well. He smiles a lot, and the action seems to surprise him-- like a baby realising they can laugh for the first time. Dr. Volkova mostly just talks to him, tone gentle, and he seems to like it -- although he never hints at understanding. It's hard to distance herself from the boy, when she has a son his age of her own at home; when she leaves Easings for the evening, she digs out some of her son's old picture books from the attic. They're frayed around the edges from wear, but the images are still bright and glossy.
Addison responds well to the books, even going as far to run his fingers over the pages reverently - smiling when he recognises something, and tilting his head to one side when confused. Dr. Volkova notes that he seems reluctant to use his hands; his fingers are long and thin, delicate even - but they hang limp, as though he doesn't quite know what to do with them. Picking anything up with them confounds him so utterly that Alexandrine is rather taken aback. He learns quickly, though: mimicking seems to be second nature to him.

It is when Dr. Volkova brings a book of avian wildlife to a session that Addison first speaks. He often makes noises - soft crooning noises like chirps, little lilts of his voice when he's particularly happy - but this: this is something new -- a word.
It happens when Dr. Volkova is flicking through the pages for him, pointing out and naming all of the birds that can be found in the area. They're in the Passerine section when he suddenly starts waving his arms, rocking his chair almost to the point where it tips sideways, with the biggest grin she's ever seen on his face. He points, index finger tapping against one of the full-colour pictures - at the Passer domesticus. The House Sparrow.

Things progress rapidly from that point on. Addison proves to be a fast learner; once that initial word is out of the way, he seems eager to learn more. Over time, Dr. Volkova teaches him to speak basic english, and to write. He seems to like writing, though he holds the brightly coloured pencils awkwardly in his hands at first, like one would hold a stick. He draws, too: child-like images of birds from the wildlife books Alexandrine brings him. He labels each one carefully, tongue sticking out of his mouth in concentration. One word, over and over again, repeated like a mantra on the paper: sparrow.
As he learns, certain problems appear. He stops answering to his name- only responding when called 'Sparrow'. Dr. Volkova makes nothing of it to begin with, although as time progresses she grows worried, evermore uneasy. The boy spends most of his time sitting by the window, staring into space - and when he's not, he's drawing, reading, or writing about birds: strange little notes to himself that she can barely understand left in his wake.

In a last ditch attempt to salvage the situation, Dr. Volkova takes him for a trip into Easing's therapy garden. The sight of it alone lights up his face with sheer excitement; she's never seen anyone look so happy to be allowed outside before. It's almost as if he's set his eyes on his very own Eden: some paradise that he alone could understand.
For long minutes he charges around the patio, feet skipping over the stones in a merry little dance. He's happy, so incredibly happy -- at least, he is until he sees the little cluster of birds in one of the back bushes, a little orange blossom barely as tall as he is. His head tilts to one side, watching them carefully. Alexandrine Volkova watches him watching them, and recognises them as the type of bird he so loves: the house sparrow. Addison seems to come to the same conclusion shortly afterward, and it is then that he races towards them, arms flailing wildly behind him. The birds, startled, take off into the air. Addison stops, watching them, and the closest thing to a frown that Dr. Volkova has ever seen begins to form on his face.
It is there, in the safety of the Therapy Garden, that little Addison "Sparrow" Finchley learns about sadness.

ADDISON FINCHLEY

Birth date on official documents is 11/12/90 (DD/MM/YY).

MALE
5'5", 165.1 centimetres approx.
85lbs/ 39kg.



AB, although some abnormalities have been recorded.
N/A.

Fair, see notes.

See doctors notes below.

See doctors notes below.