Chapter 9

Emily had been waiting anxiously for her mother to return from their therapy session. It took two hours to drive from the Doctor’s office to her home, and the combination of stress and adrenaline didn’t make Martha any favors. When she opened the door, she was almost dead on her feet.

As soon as Emily heard the door open, she rushed to the living room, where Martha stood with her eyes downcast and her shoulders slumped.

Without a word, Emily enveloped her mother in a tight embrace. She could feel Martha trembling in her arms and knew immediately that the session had not gone well.

“What happened, Mom?” Emily asked softly, taking her mother’s hand and leading her to the couch. “Did Paul say something to upset you?”

Martha shook her head, tears now falling freely down her cheeks. “No, it wasn’t Paul,” she replied, her voice shaking. “I had to look at myself, Em, and I didn’t like what I saw.”

Emily’s heart sank as she listened to her mother’s confession. She knew the deep-seated insecurities and self-doubt that had plagued Martha for years, and the thought of her having to confront them in therapy was both terrifying and heartbreaking.

Without another word, Emily pulled her mother close and held her tightly, silently offering her the love and support that she so desperately needed in that moment. She knew that words wouldn’t be enough to ease Martha’s pain, but she also knew that simply being there for her mother gave her the support she needed.

After a few minutes, Martha’s tears subsided, and she pulled away from Emily, wiping her eyes with a tissue. “I’m sorry, Em,” she said, her voice still shaking. “I know I shouldn’t let this get to me, but it’s just so hard sometimes.”

“I know, Mom,” Emily replied, hugging her mom harder.

The next morning Paul was brooding. First, Peter. Then, that Uncle. He couldn’t prevent to think what a bitch had been fate, when the only rejected one was him. Although he appreciated Peter and Lisa’s gesture, he decided he wanted nothing to do with them. They were a too painful reminder of everything that was denied to him.

The door chimed again. “Now what?” he thought. “Yes?” he pressed the intercom button.

“Paul, it’s your uncle John. Can we talk?” Paul’s heart sank as he heard his uncle’s voice through the intercom. He had been avoiding John ever since Peter and Lisa’s visit, not wanting to face the painful reminder of his family’s rejection.

But now, it seemed that John was here to confront him and Paul wasn’t sure if he was emotionally prepared for it. He took a deep breath before pressing the button to let his uncle in.

As John entered the room, Paul could see the concern and sadness in his eyes. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt as he remembered how close they used to be before his rejection.

“Paul, I know you’ve been avoiding me,” John started, taking a seat on the couch across from Paul.

“I’m sorry, Uncle John,” Paul mumbled, unable to look him in the eye.

“It’s okay, son,” John replied with a sad smile. “I understand why you would want to distance yourself from us after everything that’s happened.”

Paul felt a surge of anger at those words. It wasn’t just “everything that’s happened.” It was their rejection and the bullying and ... everything.

“I appreciate your understanding,” Paul said through gritted teeth. “But that doesn’t change anything.”

John sighed and reached out to place a hand on Paul’s shoulder. “Listen, Paul. I know we haven’t always been there for you like we should have. But we still love you and we want you in our lives.”

“No, you don’t,” Paul said. Or at least, most of the Circle. He related Lisa and Peter’s visit, and his decision to avoid them from now on.

“All I ask is for you to give us a chance,” John pleaded. “We can’t change the past, but we can work towards a better future.”

Paul’s heart was torn in two as he looked at his uncle. On one hand, he wanted to believe that his family still cared for him, but on the other, he couldn’t shake off the years of hurt and betrayal.

“I don’t know if I can forgive them, Uncle John,” Paul finally spoke up, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. “It’s been so hard for me to come to terms with the fact that my own family rejected me.”

John’s expression softened at the pain in Paul’s voice. “I can never truly understand how you feel, Paul,” he said gently. “But please know that we love you no matter what.”

Those words only fueled the fire inside Paul.

“Love me unconditionally?” Paul repeated with bitterness. “Then why was I always left out? Why did I never belong anywhere? Why was I always made to feel like a burden or a mistake?” He wiped away a stray tear angrily.

John felt a surge of anger towards his family for their past treatment of Paul.

“They have grown and changed since then,” he pleaded. “They want to make things right with you.”

“I’ll think about it,” Paul said after a long pause. “But I need time to process all of this.”

“Take all the time you need,” John reassured him. “Just remember that we will always be here for you, no matter what.”

“As you always have been,” Paul retorted bitterly. “I’m sorry, Uncle, I know you did your best, but it’s hard not to blame everyone in our family for how they treated me.”

“I understand.” John admitted.

“Just another thing,” Paul added. “Please don’t come here anymore. If I have a change of heart, I will call you.”

John sighed, but understood. Both men hugged and then John left.

Dr. Grey sat in silence, listening to Paul’s recount of his recent interactions with his family. He could see the turmoil and conflict in his eyes as he struggled to make sense of their sudden attempts to reconcile with him.

“And what do you think?” Dr. Grey finally asked.

“I don’t know,” Paul replied with a heavy sigh. “Part of me wants to believe that they’re sincere, but another part of me can’t help but wonder why now? Why after all these years?”

Dr. Grey nodded understandingly. “It’s natural to feel conflicted and uncertain about their motives,” he reassured him.

“But what for?” Paul asked bitterly. “The wounds are still there, and being in their presence would always remind me that I was never truly accepted by them.”

“I understand how difficult it is for you,” Dr. Grey said empathetically. “But perhaps it’s worth considering the possibility of forgiveness and healing.”

Paul scoffed at the idea. “Forgive and forget? How can I do that when the pain and rejection still linger?”

Dr. Grey leaned forward in his chair, his kind eyes fixed on Paul’s troubled face.

“Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting or excusing their actions,” he explained gently. “It means choosing to let go of anger and bitterness for your own well-being.”

Paul remained silent, deep in thought as he considered Dr. Grey’s words.

“It won’t be easy,” he continued. “But holding onto resentment will only continue to hurt you.”

Paul sighed heavily, feeling torn between his desire for closure and his fear of getting hurt again.

“I’ll think about it,” he finally said after a long pause.

“That’s all I ask,” Dr. Grey smiled at him. “Do you feel ready for the next session with your mother and sister?”

“I suppose,” Paul answered.

“That’s good enough for now,” Dr. Grey said.

As Paul left the therapy session, he couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope that perhaps one day, he could find it in himself to forgive his family and move on from the pain of his past. But not today.

Emily sat nervously in the waiting room of Dr. Grey’s office. She had been nervous since she got Dr. Grey’s call. This would be the first time she would be in a session with both her mother and brother, and she was filled with fear and anxiety about what might be brought up.

Martha, sat next to her, looking worried. “Are you okay?” she asked Emily, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.