Chapter 8 - LILY MET VANESSA WHEN SHE WAS TWENTY-ONE
Not because I suggested.
Lily asked.
Neutral office.
Mediator.
Vanessa walked in older.
“Hi, Lily.”
“Hi.”
No hug.
Then Lily asked first:
“Did you really think I was useless?”
Vanessa closed eyes.
“I said that.”
“Did you mean?”
“At that moment, I wanted you to feel useless.”
There.
Then:
“Why?”
“Because you needed help, and I resented being needed without feeling appreciated.”
Lily stared.
“I was seven.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“You were adult.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did my money matter?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“I wanted paid authority. Your trust made that possible if certain conditions existed.”
Then:
“So you made conditions?”
“I exaggerated them.”
“And hurt me.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did Uncle Andrew tell you?”
“He encouraged paperwork. He did not tell me to hurt you.”
Important.
Then:
“Did Dad know?”
“No.”
“Did he miss things?”
“Yes.”
Lily nodded.
She knew.
Then:
“Do you want forgiveness?”
Vanessa said:
“Yes.”
Lily looked surprised.
At least honest.
Then Vanessa continued:
“But I do not expect it.”
Better.
Then Lily:
“I forgive you enough not to hate you.”
Vanessa cried.
Then:
“I don’t want relationship.”
“I understand.”
No hug.
Done.
Later Lily told me:
“I thought I’d feel bigger.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
Then:
May you like
“I just felt done.”
Sometimes closure is boring.
