Clara and Lily were lying on the kitchen floor, barely conscious, while my mother calmly pushed dirty water around them.
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Chapter 21 / 27
Chapter 21 - LILY ASKS WHO GRANDMA WAS
At eleven, Lily asked:
“Was Grandma evil?”
No.
Easy answer would have been yes.
“Why not?”
“Because people aren’t usually one thing.”
“Did she hurt us?”
“Yes.”
“Did she steal?”
“Yes.”
“Did she love me?”
“Yes.”
“That’s stupid.”
“Sometimes.”
She thought.
“Can love be bad?”
“Love can exist inside bad choices. Love doesn’t make those choices safe.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Therapy answer.”
Correct.
Then:
“Do I have to love her?”
“No.”
“Do you?”
I paused.
“Part of me does.”
“Do you hate her?”
“Part.”
“Messy.”
May you like
“Yes.”
Children deserve adults who can survive ambiguity.
