Advice [locked to Nerissa]

[undivided_earth]

Nerissa? I know we don't exactly have the best history, but... I need some advice about Caleb. I talked to Hay Lin yesterday, and I feel better, but there are things I just couldn't tell her. You're his mother, so I was hoping you could help.

Comments

[suscipimalevola]

I was wondering when you'd ask me about him. Go ahead.

[undivided_earth]

What he said hurt, but the way he said it was worse. He made it sound like I was holding him back--that if he wasn't with me, he'd be free to follow his heart.

He's changed since he got here, and now that he's back from the other world, he's changed even more. I've stayed the same.

[suscipimalevola]

And you're worried that your differences will pull the both of you apart even more.

I can't profess to know what goes on in my son's brain but I can tell you he's a complete stranger to love and affection. Growing up without a full father figure and yes myself, has stunted his ability to express himself CORRECTLY.

Now I can't say that it's entirely because of that. He just really has no tact, due to his upbringing. I honestly can say that my son can be thoughtless when he's shooting his mouth off, or being frustrated.

[undivided_earth]

It took us so long to get together to begin with. Then immediately after we got together, he said he had to stay in Meridian. It took him forever to figure out what I needed from him, and then everything with Sanders happened. It keeps happening over and over--we get close, he pushes me away, we get back together, and then he does something stupid to ruin it again.

[suscipimalevola]

Duty over Love, Love over Love, Stupidity influencing Love

[undivided_earth]

I know. But at the same time, I don't know how much more I can take. His heart is torn and mine gets broken.

I think I'm scared of him.

[suscipimalevola]

You opened yourself to him child. You showed him exactly WHOM you are, and what you were capable of. Everything that makes Cornelia Hale was right there and he didn't understand a single thing

[undivided_earth]

Thanks. You're right--the pressure of being the "perfect couple"... I kept feeling like no one saw how many problems we had, everything playing out right in front of them.

And for what it's worth? I'm sorry you never had the chance to raise Caleb.

[suscipimalevola]

And he didn't know how to act being part of that relationship.

It's all right. It's all I can do right now to start undoing some of the mistakes I've made.

I think the first thing to do is to let him finish dealing with his memories of the war. And then we'll take it slow, one step at a time. Caleb can understand that now I think. He's got this look in his eye whenever someone mentions you.

[undivided_earth]

Yeah. No more rushing into it.