Chapter 3 - SOPHIA STOPPED CALLING THE HEAD TABLE “SPECIAL”
The girls stayed with me in Atlanta for the next week.
Sophia became quieter.
Chloe became louder.
Children process pain differently.
Chloe asked for snacks constantly.
Not because she was hungry every time.
Because food had become a question.
“Can I have this?”
“Yes.”
“Even though dinner is soon?”
“Yes.”
“Grandma says girls shouldn’t eat too much.”
My entire body tightened.
“When did she say that?”
Chloe shrugged.
“Lots.”
Sophia looked up sharply.
“Don’t tell Mom everything.”
There it was.
My eight-year-old protecting the system.
I crouched beside her.
“Why?”
“She’ll get mad.”
“At you?”
“At Grandma.”
“And then?”
“Daddy gets mad at you.”
My chest hurt.
The girls already understood the triangle better than I had admitted.
Patricia hurt them.
I objected.
Andrew punished me for disrupting peace.
Result?
The children learned silence protected Mom.
I scheduled a child therapist.
Dr. Elise Morgan.
The first session, Sophia drew a table.
Eight chairs at one end.
Two tiny chairs far away.
Dr. Morgan asked:
“Which seats are special?”
Sophia pointed to the head table.
Then erased the word she had written.
“What did that say?”
Sophia hesitated.
“Important.”
“Why did you erase it?”
She looked at me.
Then said:
“Because Mom says people don’t get more important because of where they sit.”
I had told her that the night after the party.
I did not realize she remembered.
Dr. Morgan nodded.
“What would you call the table now?”
Sophia thought.
Then:
“Loud.”
I almost laughed.
Good.
May you like
Let it become loud instead of important.
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