Chapter 15 - MY SISTER
Repair with my sister took longer than I expected.
She had not put Osric in a uniform.
She had not withheld food.
She had benefited.
Sometimes knowing you benefited from a system is harder to admit than knowing you built it.
She said:
“I thought Mom was rewarding us because my daughter loved family events.”
“She did love them.”
“I thought you chose distance.”
“I did.”
“So why shouldn’t support follow people who participate?”
“Because Mom never told me support existed.”
Silence.
Then:
“That’s the difference.”
“Yes.”
She had been comparing visible compliance to invisible exclusion.
Lucienne created both sides.
My sister eventually apologized to Osric.
Age-appropriate.
No money.
No trust.
“I saw you helping at parties and should have asked if you wanted to.”
Osric looked at her.
“Why didn’t you?”
“I thought it was a game.”
“It wasn’t.”
“I know now.”
Good.
The favored cousin apologized too, after her therapist determined it would not burden her.
“I thought Grandma said you liked helping.”
Osric shrugged.
“I didn’t.”
“Okay.”
Then she gave him half her cupcake.
May you like
That repaired more than speeches.
Children have their own currencies.
