Chapter 8 - ALYSSA AND OLIVIA
Olivia did not want to speak to Alyssa for almost a year.
I never forced it.
People kept telling me:
“They’re kids.”
Exactly.
Which was why adults should not make them perform forgiveness for family convenience.
Then Alyssa transferred to Olivia’s school.
Not because of us.
Melissa moved.
Same district.
One afternoon, Olivia came home and dropped her backpack.
“Alyssa talked to me.”
I waited.
“What did she say?”
“That she’s sorry.”
“How do you feel?”
“I don’t know.”
Good answer.
“She said Mom told her you only bought me expensive stuff because you were trying to make her jealous.”
I closed my eyes.
Olivia continued.
“She thought I got everything.”
“You didn’t.”
“I know.”
“She said she left my markers open because she wanted me to feel bad.”
My chest tightened.
“What did you say?”
Olivia shrugged.
“I told her they were Prismacolors and she ruined $160.”
I almost laughed.
Accountant’s daughter.
Then:
“She gave me money.”
“How much?”
“One hundred sixty.”
I looked at her.
“Did you take it?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
“I’m buying new markers.”
“Reasonable.”
Then Olivia hesitated.
“I don’t want to be sisters.”
“You don’t have to.”
“But maybe we can be… not enemies.”
I smiled.
“That sounds healthy.”
Sometimes reconciliation is not a hug.
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Sometimes it is simply retiring from war.
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