Please forgive everyone everything

The Dr. Goodwell leaned closer to Maria from his chair. “If you want to move past this, you have to forgive him for leaving you.”

The clock interrupted each second with a heavy tick. Maria kept her eyes down while she hugged herself. Her fingers slowly move back and forth on her soft cotton sleeves. Maria reluctantly shook her head.

Her psychologist frowned slightly. “Why not?”

Maria kept her eyes staring down as she forced her face up. “Because my family always forgave him. My mom kept letting him think that it was okay to leave without warning. He never told us how long, or who he was with. It was like that for so long, I started thinking it was okay.” Maria let her eyes stare at the clock. “I don’t want him to think that it’s okay anymore.”

The psychologist leaned back, “Has he tried to make up with you?”

“Yes. He took me and my brothers bowling. They loved it.”

“Do you not want to have a more personal relationship with your father?”

“It’s not that.” Maria furrowed her brows as she thought. “I feel like I deserve to be bitter for a little while longer.”

The therapist glanced at the clock and deeply inhaled the musty, stale air. “That’s all the time we have for today.”

Maria slowly got up and walked out of the cramped office. Her mother stood up when they saw each other. They walked to their worn down car together. Her mother’s sweet, flowery perfume drifted toward her.

“Mom?”

“Yes, Maria?”

“Do you forgive him?” Maria asked as her mother stopped at the driver side door. Her mother didn’t say a word until she opened the door.

“I do, he’s trying to be a part of our lives again and make up for lost time.” Her mother stared at her through the dark. “I understand though, Maria. Trying to change the future will never change the past.”