Chapter 9 - Lily Is Afraid of Heat
Lily’s burn healed physically faster than her fear.
Within three weeks skin had closed.
At six weeks the burn clinic was pleased.
Small area of color change.
Full finger movement.
No surgery.
No lasting functional damage expected.
Emotionally:
She would not enter my parents’ backyard.
Fine.
She hated grills.
Fine.
Then:
Toaster.
Less fine.
One morning bread popped.
She screamed.
I unplugged toaster for three days.
Her therapist, Dr. Maya Reynolds, told me:
“Don’t redesign the world around heat forever.”
“I’m not forcing her.”
“Good. Also don’t make every fear sacred.”
Balance.
We began with language.
Hot things can hurt.
Adults check.
You do not have to touch.
Tongs are tools.
Grandpa used them wrongly.
Fire is not Grandpa.
At first Lily asked before approaching our stove:
“Hot?”
Even when off.
We answered.
No teasing.
No:
You know it’s off.
Then one day she touched a cold metal spoon and said:
“Not hot.”
Progress.
No dramatic exposure.
Time.
Trust.
May you like
Ordinary kitchens.
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