“I think what June would like to say is that we kind of drifted apart,” he eventually says. And thank fuck for small mercies.
Grandma is leaning against the kitchen counter with her glass of juice in hand. “Should you really be mansplaining her thoughts and feelings?”
“It’s a valid concern,” says Molly. “But how about we let June and Nash steer the conversation for now?”
Grandma takes a sip of juice and says naught.
“There are traces of blue in your aura, June,” says Molly, in a calm and controlled voice. “It suggests you’re healing from giving too much of yourself. Do you think perhaps some of your relationships have been lacking in reciprocity?”
“I guess so. I mean, neither of us were really prioritizing being together.”
Molly nods encouragingly.
Nash waits for me to keep speaking. And he waits some more. Then he says, “I didn’t close the toilet lid.”
“How did that make you feel, June?” asks Molly.
“Just annoyed mostly.”
“What would be a suitable resolution for you?”
“Putting the lid down?”
Molly sits forward in her seat. “And would that make you feel like your emotions and needs were being considered?”
“Yes.”
Molly turns to the man beside me and asks, “What do you say, Nash?”
“I can definitely do that. I will put the lid down.”
“There we go,” says Molly, with no small amount of excitement. “Conflict resolution in action. You two are off to a great start!”
Grandma snorts.
“Was there something you wanted to add, Audrey?” asks Molly.
“No, no. They’re steering the conversation. Just pretend I’m not even here.”
“While these sort of everyday concerns are so important for us to address,” continues Molly, “why don’t we also take a look at the bigger issues? Say, for instance, what led to the relationship breaking down? What crisis occurred to bring you two to this particular point?”
Nash looks at me, and I look at him, and yeah. He shoves his hand through his thick hair in frustration. That would be the dark murky red in his aura.
The two problems here are a. he’s not my ex; and b. he wants to stay in town for a while. So calling him an uncaring asshole who dumped me out of nowhere will not work. Though throwing me out with nil notice is exactly what my ex did.
I may have experienced some recent revelations about said relationship. How shitty it generally was, and the way I don’t really miss it. But none of this excuses his callous behavior toward me. Therefore, I am all out of readymade backstory for us to use.
“I’m sensing a name starting with C,” says Molly, holding the quartz in her hands.
Grandma chuckles. “You don’t mean Lady Caroline, do you?”
Nash’s mouth opens, but nothing comes out.
“Who is she?” I ask curiously.
“Someone I haven’t seen in a long time.” He stretches out his arms along the back of the couch. “She has nothing to do with what’s happening now.”
I don’t know if I believe him. But it’s also none of my business. “Why don’t we move on?”
