Trauma Grieving

Chapter 9

Emily's POV_

The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. Rachel was always around, and Mom was trying to get us used to having her in the house. Sophia was around too, but she kept to herself mostly.

I was still trying to wrap my head around having an aunt. I didn't know what to call her, or how to act around her. Mom said it was okay to take our time, that we could call her Rachel or Aunt Rachel, whichever we preferred.

I decided to call her Rachel for now. It felt weird calling her Aunt Rachel, like she was someone I was supposed to know really well.

Rachel was nice, though. She asked me about school and my friends, and she listened when I talked about my favorite books. She was easy to talk to, in a weird way.

One day, Rachel asked if she could help with dinner, and Mom said yes. I watched as she chopped up vegetables and stirred the pot. She seemed to know what she was doing.

"Rachel, can I ask you something?" I said, trying to sound casual.

"Of course, sweetie," she replied, smiling.

"Why did you leave Mom when she was little?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Rachel's expression turned sad, and she put down the spoon she was holding. "That's a long story, Emily," she said gently. "But I'll tell you this: I'm sorry. I'm sorry for a lot of things, and I'm trying to make amends."

I nodded, feeling a bit better. I didn't fully understand, but I knew that Rachel was trying.

As we sat down to dinner, Rachel looked around the table at us. "I'm really glad to be here," she said, her voice a little shaky.

We all smiled, and Mom reached out to squeeze her hand. It was a small moment, but it felt like a start.

_Mark's POV_

I watched as Rachel approached me, her eyes uncertain. "Hey, Mark, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked.

I shrugged, feeling a bit guarded. What did she want to talk to me about?

We stepped outside onto the porch, the cool evening air a welcome relief from the tension inside. Rachel took a deep breath before speaking.

"Mark, I know I'm not exactly the easiest person to get to know, and I've made a lot of mistakes. But I want you to know that I'm trying. I'm trying to be a part of this family, to get to know you and your siblings."

I looked at her warily, unsure of what to say. She was right; she was a stranger to us.

"I know I don't have any right to ask, but I want to earn your trust," she continued. "I want to be here for you, to support you and help you in any way I can."

I didn't know what to say. Part of me wanted to believe her, to trust her. But another part of me was scared. Scared of getting hurt, of being let down.

"Thanks, Rachel," I said finally, trying to sound casual. "I'll think about it."

Rachel nodded, a small smile on her face. "That's all I can ask for, I guess."

We stood there for a moment, the silence between us awkward. Then Rachel turned and went back inside, leaving me alone on the porch.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation settle on my shoulders. This was going to be a tough road, but I was willing to try. For my family's sake, I was willing to try.