“It’s not that simple, Mom,” I said firmly. “Trust has been broken. Healing will take time. And there need to be boundaries.” I insisted they stop enabling Cassandra, and accept my relationship with Cassandra would be different. “Being family doesn’t mean tolerating abuse, Mom. What Cassandra did was abusive. That has consequences, even within a family.”
The dinner remained subdued. My father hugged me. “I’m proud of you, Bridget. Adam would be too.” My mother’s eyes were sad.
Cassandra was the last to leave. “I really am sorry,” she said again. “For everything. For not being the sister you deserved.”
“I know,” I replied. “I hope therapy helps you understand why. Lucas deserves an emotionally healthy mother. Do you think you’ll ever forgive me?”
“I don’t know,” I answered truthfully. “But I’m willing to see where this new path takes us. For Lucas’s sake, and maybe someday for ours, too.”