Week 5: Wednesday

[disclosures]

[It seems like she's trying to reach for something small up on a high ledge. There's a stack of tables arranged in almost a staircase as she grabs whatever it is. She doesn't know who's around her and what the result of touching it is going to be.

But once she's grabbed it, the memory bubble starts, Rebecca looking off into the sunset.]

Comments

[alttitude]

[Oh - that's not what Jae-ha expected.

... considering that he remembers that Rebecca most certainly told him not to talk to her about love before. Hm. Hm.]

That was... ah, lovely?

[he's going to try to find some middle ground here]

[disclosures]

[It's funny what only a day can do to a person's perspective. Her lips are thin as she relives the memory.]

You can say it. It was stupid. I was stupid for believing any of that.

[alttitude]

For... believing that you'll find happiness?

[rebecca

that's so damn concerning]

[disclosures]

[Well yeah, her happiness, but also-]

For believing my dad would ever love me. Because I'm a bride? Ugh, he doesn't- he didn't even want me. Just say it, I'm naive and crazy for ever thinking that would happen.

[alttitude]

... why would I say that?

[Jae-ha's brow furrows.]

Of course a child would want to be loved by their parent. It's one of the things that we learn to expect, to want... you're not wrong for wanting that.

[disclosures]

I shouldn't have believed it. Even for a second. He walked out on us on my birthday. He never wanted to get in contact with me after that.

I had to lie to my mom to see him! And he still didn't want to spend time with me. He wanted to get rid of me as fast as he could.

[alttitude]

[His answer is immediate:]

That doesn't make it your fault. Not for even a second.

Did he let you think that?

[disclosures]

That was more my mom than my dad, if I'm gonna be honest here.

[alttitude]

... she was speaking out of hurt. People say untrue things when they have no idea what's left for them to say.

[An explanation but - ]

You still didn't deserve that.

[disclosures]

No, I'm sure she meant it. You don't say your daughter is a loser and a terrible person all of the time unless you mean it.

[But Rebecca just shrugs. She doesn't believe him at all.]

[alttitude]

Then she was wrong too.

You never deserved to hear any of those things.

[disclosures]

[She looks at him for a long moment- and then shakes her head.]

Like, I know you're right generally. Parents shouldn't say that to their kids, but- I don't know- I still feel like I do.