Chapter 18 - Claire’s QuestionClaire asked:
“Does Melanie love me?”
Ethan froze.
They were sitting on the back steps.
Spring had arrived.
Pear trees beginning to bloom.
He could have answered quickly.
Yes.
No.
Both would be guesses.
“I don’t know exactly what Melanie feels.”
Claire frowned.
“But she said she did.”
“She probably feels something she calls love.”
“Then why did she do bad things?”
Ethan looked at his daughter.
“People can care about someone and still behave in ways that are unsafe.”
“That’s confusing.”
“Yes.”
“Does love make it okay?”
“No.”
“Does saying sorry make it okay?”
“No.”
“Do I have to forgive her?”
“No.”
Claire picked at a loose thread on her jeans.
“Can I forgive her later?”
“If you want.”
“Can I not?”
“Yes.”
That seemed to satisfy her.
May you like
Children did not need forced emotional endings.
They needed permission to own their boundaries.
Related Stories
