“How did that happen?” the psychologist asked gently.
“She was at a party and took pills. She drank too much, and her body just couldn’t take it.”
Alex studied the others in the room. Diana had everyone’s attention.
“I’ve always been haunted by the thought that I should’ve seen it coming,” Diana continued. “That I could have stopped it. My parents and I were afraid we’d push her away, so no one said anything. I have never dealt with that guilt…and I want to.”
“Thank you for sharing and helping us get started, Diana,” the psychologist said. “I know that could not have been easy.”
The psychologist turned to Alex.
“Alex?”
“Yes.”
“Are you ready to share?”
“I am.”
102.
For obvious reasons, Alex’s mother wasn’t keen about letting her son go to school on his own following the tragedy. Alex did not object for a long time, but eventually said that he wanted to walk by himself. His mother gave in gradually by allowing him to walk ahead of her while she followed from behind, hiding in trees and bushes.
Alex knew that she was doing it, but he did his best to ignore her. Secretly, he enjoyed it. He periodically turned to look and would smile after catching her ducking behind a mailbox or crouching down beside a shrub to avoid being seen. They never discussed this funny new routine.
After another week or so, Alex turned and saw her a little farther back, and then a day or two later not at all. Now completely liberated to come and go as he pleased, Alex soon found that he missed his mother’s company and asked her to rejoin him for those morning walks.
They took turns chatting and walking quietly together. One day, Alex kept stopping and fiddling with a disposable camera.
“You’re going to be late, son,” his mother complained.
Alex picked up his pace, but he kept looking through the camera’s viewfinder. As he panned around, he caught an image of his mother while she was walking.
“Hey, Mom. Stop for a sec.”
She stopped and looked at him.
“Smile or something,” he said.
“Alex…”
“Come on, please.”
The sun shone brightly in the sky behind Alex’s mother, and she looked relaxed and happy. She flashed a beautiful smile and Alex was sure he captured it, even though he would have to wait and see the developed film. It would eventually become his favourite photo of her.
They resumed their walk together.
“Why did you do that?” his mother asked.
“I just always want to remember you this way.”
The Tournament Page 53