Chapter 25 - THE VISIT
One year after the hospital incident, Elodie asked:
“Can Grandma see me?”
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“I want her to watch me use inhaler.”
That was not quite enough.
Dr. Levin explored.
Elodie wanted control.
She wanted Bernice to see treatment and not comment.
A therapeutic visit could support that if Bernice prepared.
Conditions:
Thirty minutes.
Therapist present.
I observed nearby.
No physical contact without request.
No discussion of court.
No medical advice.
If Elodie says stop, it stops.
Bernice agreed.
She entered slowly.
Elodie sat with Mr. Patches.
Her controller inhaler on table because evening dose would occur during session.
Grandma smiled.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
Silence.
Then:
“You got old.”
Bernice laughed.
“So did you.”
“I’m eight.”
“Very old.”
Elodie smiled despite herself.
Then medication time.
Dr. Levin looked at Elodie.
“Want privacy?”
“No.”
I watched through glass.
Elodie used inhaler with spacer exactly as taught.
Bernice did nothing.
No flinch.
No:
Do you need that?
No:
Try breathing first.
Nothing.
Elodie finished.
Then stared.
“Say something.”
Bernice looked at therapist.
She nodded.
Grandma said:
“Good job following your doctor’s plan.”
Elodie frowned.
“Not good job.”
Bernice corrected immediately.
“Okay.”
Then:
“You followed your plan.”
Better.
Elodie said:
“I don’t have to earn medicine.”
“No.”
“You made me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Bernice swallowed.
“Because I thought needing less medicine made people stronger.”
“Does it?”
“No.”
“Daddy strong?”
Bernice looked through glass.
Could not see me clearly maybe.
“Yes.”
“Did you do him too?”
“Yes.”
“Was that wrong?”
“Yes.”
Elodie nodded.
Then:
“Okay.”
No absolution.
Just fact.
At twenty-four minutes:
“I’m tired.”
Bernice said:
“We can stop.”
No push.
The visit ended.
Before leaving, Bernice asked:
“May I hug you?”
Elodie shook head.
“No.”
Grandma’s face hurt.
“Okay.”
May you like
She left.
That “okay” was the first thing she gave Elodie without trying to improve it.
