Chapter 25 - Lena sees Eli again
Eli was seven when he asked:
“Do I ever have to see Aunt Lena?”
“No.”
“Can I?”
That surprised me.
“Do you want to?”
“I want to ask something.”
We discussed it with his therapist.
Then arranged a short meeting.
Neutral office.
Me present.
No Diane.
No Peter.
Lena entered.
No perfume.
I noticed immediately.
Eli did too.
“Are you wearing smell stuff?”
“No.”
“Because of me?”
“Yes.”
He thought.
“You can wear it. Just don’t spray me.”
Lena’s eyes filled.
“Okay.”
Then his question.
“Did you think I was a baby?”
Lena looked at me.
I stayed silent.
“Yes.”
Eli frowned.
“Why?”
“Because you complained about things I didn’t think should bother you.”
“They did.”
“I know.”
“Did you hate me?”
“No.”
“Then why were you mean?”
There are questions adults spend thousands of dollars in therapy learning to answer.
Lena said:
“Because I was more interested in proving I was right than in being kind to you.”
That was good.
Eli processed.
Then:
“Don’t do it again.”
“I won’t.”
No hug.
When we left, he said:
“She looks sad.”
“Yes.”
“Is that my fault?”
“No.”
May you like
The most important question.
Answered correctly.
