Chapter 5 - Marcia arrives
Marcia moved into their guest room on night five.
Not because Alessandra asked.
Colin did.
“My mom raised three children.”
That was his argument.
“She can help.”
Alessandra was exhausted enough to agree.
At first Marcia did help.
She held Theo.
Prepared breakfast.
Ran laundry.
Took one 5 a.m. bottle after Alessandra pumped.
Then the philosophy began.
“You can’t let the baby run the house.”
“Sleep when the baby sleeps is how women lose all structure.”
“If you stay in pajamas all day, you’ll feel sick.”
“You need fresh air.”
Some of that could sound reasonable in another context.
Then:
“Why are you still lying down?”
“Your incision is three weeks old, not three hours.”
“Colin has to work.”
“He cannot live on takeout.”
Alessandra reminded her:
“My doctor said to rest.”
Marcia replied:
“Doctors tell modern women not to do anything because they’re terrified of lawsuits.”
That sentence should have ended the conversation.
Instead, Alessandra tried to prove she was not weak.
By week two, Marcia created a rotating household schedule.
Monday:
Laundry.
Tuesday:
Groceries.
Wednesday:
Meal prep.
Thursday:
Bathrooms.
Friday:
Linens.
Not deep cleaning.
Still absurd for someone recovering from surgery, blood loss, and severe sleep deprivation.
Colin did not merely fail to stop it.
He endorsed it.
“Mom’s trying to help us find a rhythm.”
The rhythm was killing Alessandra’s recovery.
Not literally killing.
Important distinction.
May you like
But driving her body toward collapse.
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