Chapter 25 - My Sister and Me
Genevieve and I did not return to childhood closeness.
Maybe childhood closeness had always depended on me rescuing and her resenting it.
We saw each other at family events eventually.
Coffee once.
Then again.
She asked:
“Do you still think I stole from your daughter?”
“Yes.”
She flinched.
“Even though money stayed in business.”
“You took value meant for her without authorization.”
“Yes.”
There.
Then:
“Do you think I abused her?”
Harder.
“I think you emotionally humiliated her and used deprivation as punishment.”
She looked down.
“I never hit her.”
“I know.”
“I loved her.”
“I know.”
That was difficult.
People want harm to come only from absence of love.
Not true.
Genevieve said:
“I hated Anna sometimes.”
“I know.”
“She hated me too.”
“Sometimes.”
“Do you hate me?”
I thought.
“Sometimes.”
She laughed once.
Then cried.
“Fair.”
We did not hug.
No need.
Sibling relationships can survive without pretending nothing happened.
We built limited honesty.
May you like
Better than old closeness built on omissions.
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