Chapter 21 - Dahlia and Work
For three months after the wedding, Dahlia refused to carry plates.
At home.
Restaurant.
Anywhere.
If I said:
“Can you take this to kitchen?”
“No.”
Mara and I did not force at first.
Then her therapist, Dr. Leah Benton, said:
“Don’t let Renata own the concept of helping.”
Annoyingly correct.
So we rebuilt.
Dahlia chose chores.
Feed houseplants? We had many.
Put napkins on table.
Sort laundry.
No trays.
Not yet.
At eight she volunteered to carry a plate.
Then stopped.
“Can I?”
“Yes.”
“If drop?”
“We clean.”
“No service week?”
“No.”
She carried it.
Nothing happened.
Later she started helping Claire bake.
Loved measuring flour.
Hated wiping counters.
Normal.
We also took her through Marcelli House once during daytime when it was quiet.
Not as exposure test.
Her choice.
Victor showed her ballroom.
Kitchen entrance.
Administrative lounge.
The hallway where she slept.
She stood at distance.
Then said:
“Can go.”
We left.
No need to reclaim every square foot.
May you like
Sometimes leaving is reclamation.
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