Making an effort
‘I sent out invitations and texted a reminder. What else was I expected to do? I inquired, my voice straining with frustration and hurt. I looked around the room, hoping that my words would sink in. Aunt Karen’s stiff face relaxed a little. “I tried so hard to include everyone,” I said, feeling a faint glimmer of optimism as the expressions around me began to shift, if only slightly. The collective tension relaxed slightly.
Making An Effort
Shifting moods
The mood changed slightly as the truth began to sink in. The severe looks were replaced with some understanding nods. My parents’ stiff stances loosened slightly. The air, though strained, was no longer suffocating. ‘We didn’t realize,’ Aunt Sarah said quietly, breaking the silence. Everyone seemed to be looking for solutions in one another’s eyes. Although the path to repairing the family split remained difficult, a frail bridge of empathy began to grow.
Shifting Moods
