Chapter 7 - Brielle Had Been Keeping a List
The drawing wasn’t the only thing Heather found.
With Brielle’s permission, they went through a notebook from her bedroom.
Not a diary.
A list.
Dates.
Short sentences.
Mom missed my debate because Toby threw up.
Mom promised lunch with me, then brought Toby.
Toby broke my headphones. Mom said accidents happen.
I yelled once. Mom said I’m setting a bad example.
Toby yelled at dinner. Everybody laughed.
Mom said “you’re practically grown.”
That last one appeared six times.
Heather remembered saying it affectionately.
She meant:
I trust you.
Brielle heard:
I don’t need to take care of you anymore.
The most painful entry was only three words.
Stop needing Mom.
Heather stared at it.
“When did you write this?”
Brielle shrugged.
“Last year.”
“You thought you weren’t allowed to need me?”
“You always looked tired when I did.”
Heather could not argue.
Sometimes children learn the family’s emotional economics without anyone teaching it directly.
Brielle had calculated that Toby cost Heather more energy.
So she tried to cost less.
May you like
Eventually, resentment became the price.
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