Chapter 6 - He had been talking about my mental health
My sister, Mirabelle, came to hospital.
She looked afraid to tell me something.
“Aloysius has been calling me.”
“When?”
“For weeks.”
“About what?”
“You.”
I stared.
“He said you were struggling.”
“I was nine months pregnant.”
“I know.”
“What did he say?”
“That you were forgetful.”
Normal.
“That you were emotional.”
Pregnant.
“That you were confused about appointments.”
One appointment.
I had written the wrong Tuesday on our refrigerator calendar.
Then:
“He asked if I thought you should take a longer leave after the baby.”
That sounded caring.
Until Mirabelle added:
“He asked whether I’d ever seen you confuse Caius’s things.”
“What?”
“Like lunches, medications, school forms.”
“Why?”
“He said he worried about you managing two kids.”
I looked at my daughter.
Then at my son.
This had started before delivery.
The baby switch was not random.
Aloysius had been building a story in which I was:
Overwhelmed.
Forgetful.
May you like
Postpartum-vulnerable.
Potentially unsafe.
