Chapter 12.) Healing Hurts

                                    

                                          
"Do you think everyone should just give Ava some space?" Laiya asked Dante as they painted the walls in what would be her bedroom whenever she slept over. It's been 3 days since Ava's explosion at the dinner and Laiya and Dante have been trying to figure out how the family would react moving forward. 
"Yes and no," he answered. "No, because anytime someone in this family is left alone to sulk in their thoughts too long, it never ends well. But yes, because they should allow her to show us that she's okay and isn't going to jump off a cliff or something. Her fiancé is in a coma, she should be allowed to be sad about it."
Laiya nodded, "that's how I feel."
"With our family tho... it's... sometimes people get mad when you leave them alone and then some get upset when you constantly check on them. It's a lil like a lose-lose situation."
"I agree... how are you feeling tho?" she decided to ask.
Dante shrugged, "I mean you basically live here but I'm good. I like being at my pops Law Firm."
Laiya nodded, "So do you think you'll go off to become a lawyer or attorney?"
"Most def," he said, "I like the mock trials they do and it's dope to be able to sit and watch live trials."
"I thought cases were private?"
"It depends on the type but with the ones I sat through, they're usually open for public," he clarified. "But back to you, you wanna go to hair school? I know your mom was acting up when you told her you wanted to be a teacher... how do you think she'll feel when she finds out you wanna do hair?"
"I'm not gonna tell her, I don't have the emotional compacity to listen to her call me a disappointment or something."
"I don't blame you for that, you gotta protect your peace and set boundaries. You didn't ask to be here but you're making the best out of this confusing thing called life," he told her.
"That's because you've been looking out for me," she smiled.
"You gotta give yourself credit too," he reminded. 
"I'm trying, I just hate feeling like I'm supposed to have my life figured out," she admitted. 
"And you don't have to," he placed the rolling stick down. "We're young, we've spent years in school and are expected to go right into college the moment we graduate. I'm just glad I wasn't forced because I feel like I would've wasted money trying to please my parents when I knew I wasn't ready."
Laiya sighed, "What do you think I should do then?"
Dante shrugged, "Only you can answer that. It's your mental health you'll be putting on the line. Are you ready for more school or do you think you should take a break?" 
"That's a good question."


***


Do you trust yourself to look after your daughter alone?" Elise asked Ava.
"I wouldn't do anything to harm her."
"I never said that," Elise replied, "I'm just asking if you trust yourself alone with your daughter?"
"I'm allowed to be sad," Ava mumbled. 
Elise removed her glasses, "You are but Ava, that is not what I asked. Do you feel as if your daughter is safe with you while you are in this state of mind?"