Chapter 23 - THURSDAY NIGHTS CHANGE
Thursday became symbolic.
For six months it had been the night of deception.
Then the night of recovery.
Vanessa continued GA without Ryan.
At first she texted him after each meeting.
Made it.
Ryan replied:
Proud of you.
Eventually Dr. Pierce suggested:
“Stop.”
Ryan stared.
“Why?”
“Because you’re still supervising.”
“She likes the support.”
“Ask her.”
Ryan did.
Vanessa thought.
Then said:
“You’re right.”
He stopped.
Ryan began his own Thursday routine.
Therapy at six.
A support group for family members and enablers at seven-thirty.
He hated the word enabler.
That was probably why he needed the group.
One man said:
“I thought helping meant reducing consequences.”
Ryan wrote it down.
Another:
“I confused being needed with being loved.”
That one hurt.
He wrote it too.
Natalie did not attend.
Did not ask for reports.
One Thursday, Ryan texted:
Thinking of you. No need to respond.
Natalie stared.
Old Ryan would have sent something requiring reassurance.
Do you miss me?
Are we okay?
When can we talk?
This demanded nothing.
She replied anyway.
Thinking of you too.
A month later, they had dinner.
No Lily.
No therapists.
No crisis.
Ryan asked:
“Can I tell you something without it being a request?”
Natalie smiled.
“Try.”
“I miss you.”
She looked at him.
“I miss you too.”
He nodded.
Did not ask:
May you like
Then why aren’t we together?
That restraint moved her more than pleading would have.
