Chapter 7 - CLAIRE SPEAKS TO HER MOTHERClaire was eleven when she asked to see Natalie.
Ryan's first thought was no.
He didn't say it.
Progress.
“What makes you want to?”
Claire shrugged.
“I want to ask something.”
“Do you want me there?”
“No.”
That hurt.
He respected it.
The meeting occurred with a therapist.
Natalie entered.
Claire stared at her.
Natalie cried immediately.
Claire's expression tightened.
“Don't.”
Natalie stopped.
Good.
Claire asked:
“Why did you lock me up when I was trying to help Tyler?”
Natalie took a long time.
“Because I wanted to stop you from proving I was wrong.”
Claire frowned.
Ryan later heard the transcript summary with Claire's permission.
Natalie continued.
“If I let you help him, I had to admit the exercise was dangerous.”
“So?”
“I was afraid.”
Claire stared.
“You were scared, so you locked me in a cage?”
“Yes.”
“That makes no sense.”
“No.”
Another honest answer.
Claire asked:
“Did Mr. Vale tell you to?”
“Not that day.”
Important.
“He taught me to use the enclosure before. But that day I chose it myself.”
Claire nodded.
She seemed to need that clarity.
Not:
The bad man made Mommy do it.
Children could handle complexity.
Natalie was manipulated.
Natalie also hurt them.
Both.
At the end Natalie apologized.
Claire said:
“I don't forgive you yet.”
Natalie nodded.
“Okay.”
No hug.
No forced closure.
Claire left.
In the car Ryan asked:
“How was it?”
Claire looked out the window.
“She's less scary now.”
“Why?”
“She knows she's wrong.”
May you like
Ryan understood.
Authority without accountability had frightened Claire more than anger itself.
