Healing Scars

Isla knew that they were many things that lead her to sit across from Dr Lowe, some that were within her control and others that were not. Family Violence Counselling. That was the story of the Morgan family, of the women on her mother’s side of the family. “Hello, Isla,” Dr Lowe said. “My name is Summer, and I’ll be your counsellor for as long as you’re comfortable.” “It’s lovely to meet you,” Isla said. Isla was only here because she promised Lola, Lily, and Jaxon that she would at least try. Try for Alysanne’s and Temperance’s sake, her pandemic babies. “Why don’t we start with your family, so I can begin to have an understanding of what’s going on?” Summer asked. Come on, Isla thought. It was a simple question that she had been asked hundreds of times before now. “I’m the eldest of three, Lola and Jaxon are twins,” Isla said nodding, “I’m twenty-five and the twins are twenty-three. Then there’s my twin girls, Alysanne and Temperance who are two years old.” “And the father?” “Jail… it wasn’t a willing encounter…” “I’m sorry that happened, have you spoken to anyone about it?” “No.” “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.” “I’m not ready… sorry.” “There’s nothing to be sorry about, we go at your pace, and I will not push you to talk about anything.” “Thank you.” It turned out that Lola was right about the clinic, even if she was seeing Dr Vsevolodovich instead of Dr Lowe. It would also seem that she owed her baby sister an apology after she was done with this session. “Lola is seeing Dr Vsevolodovich…” Isla trailed off, wanting to see what Summer would do with the information. “I can’t talk about my husband’s clients,” Summer said, “But I’m impressed, not many can say my husband’s last name.” “Lola wanted to make sure I could say it, she’s done the same with Jaxon and Lily.” “Lily?” “She’s my girlfriend, has been for about four years,” Isla said blinking before coughing, “my parents, their names are Aurora Butler and Braxton Morgan, I don’t call them Mum and Dad.” “Any reason?” “Besides from being horrid people?” “Do you mind if I make notes?” “Of course not.” Isla looked at her, closing her eyes and clenching her hands. “The man in jail, he found out that I was bisexual, and he told me that he was helping chose a side, the right side… I feel so dirty.” “Isla, it’s not your fault, listen to me. You did not deserve what happened to you,” Summer said, “nothing you could have done warrants what happened, the fault lies at his feet and no one else’s. I will tell you this as many times as required.” “It’s not my fault?” Isla asked. “No,” Summer said, “something bad happened to you, so no, it was never your fault.” Isla stared at her, if what happened with that man wasn’t her fault, then could it be said about everything that happened at Aurora Butler and Braxton Morgan’s hands? That it wasn’t her that caused them to act the way they had? COVID-19 had forced them inside, but Isla was glad since it meant that she didn’t have people staring at her during her pregnancy and that there was barely anyone in the hospital. Only Lily could be at her side during the birth. “I have pictures of Alysanne and Temperance,” Isla said. She realised that she had been staring at Summer while she was lost in her own thoughts and that wasn’t fair to the woman, more so, since her past wasn’t a happy one and wasn’t something, she was ready to talk about. But she could get there with Summer’s help, allowing herself to feel the pushed-down emotions. Emotions that weren’t safe to feel at the time, as it could lead to the situation getting worse and much more deadly. “Thank you, Isla,” Summer said. “I want to do better for them, for Temperance and Alysanne, so they won’t have to question if their parents loved them or not,” Isla admitted. “You’ve taken the first step, I will be here to help, and it sounds like you’ve got a wonderful support network,” Summer said. “It’s not just Lily, Lola and Jaxon,” Isla said, smiling, “there’s also Lola’s sister, Caitlin and my best friend, Elizabeth Whitworth. I live with Lily with the twins, but Lily brought an entire apartment block, and we live there.” “That’s sweet of her,” Summer said. “The Spencer family have a successful family business that Lily and Caitlin work at,” Isla said, “Lola and Jaxon work in their marketing department, while Elizabeth work in their technology department. I’m the only one who doesn’t work…” “Being a mother is a full-time job,” Summer said. “Once the twins are in school, I’m going to study but I don’t know what.” “You’ll find out, I’m sure.” “You have more confidence in me, than I ever had… then, Aurora was never nice to me or my siblings,” Isla admitted. “Braxton was the worse, I’ve been called everything from w***e to Cunt for as long as my memory goes back.”