Problem Solvers

The Boy: Part Two

"I thought about what you said." Vanya sat herself down across from her therapist and spoke quickly, hyper-conscious of how short the session would be. "I get what you meant, about the emotional blackmail and, and I wasn't doing it on purpose, but I've recognized it and corrected my behavior."

"That's good," Mrs. Duchemin said.

"But I don't see myself as the victim," Vanya said. "If anything, I think Five is the victim."

Duchemin smiled wryly. "Which Five are we talking about today?"

"The older one," Vanya said. "In California."

"What makes him the victim?"

"His entire life in the Apocalypse!" Vanya said. "It was my fault. I can never atone for that."

Duchemin pursed her lips. "Let's be careful not to over-correct. The world is not made up of victims and perpetrators."

"Maybe not," Vanya said. "But I am the perpetrator. I ended the world."

Vanya knew this topic made Mrs. Duchemin uncomfortable. Whether the woman considered the descriptions of time travel and world destruction true to life or a massive delusion was never clear; both would be alarming, Vanya supposed.

"It's in the past," Duchemin said, carefully.

"I know," Vanya said. "I know I shouldn't dwell on it. I only brought it up because... because I don't see myself as the victim. That's my point. I'm the perpetrator."

Duchemin shook her head. "They're not binary identities. One can be both. In fact, it could be argued that every single one of us is both at one time or another."

Vanya frowned. She didn't know what she was supposed to say to that.

"But let's pick up where we left off last time," Duchemin said. "How's Ben? Did you two resolve the conflict with Diego?"

"I told Diego jealousy is unhealthy," Vanya said. "And Ben backed me up, so... yeah."

"There's that word again," Duchemin said. "Do you ever think your fixation on achieving this illusive 'healthy' behavior might itself be unhealthy?"

Vanya blinked.

"I'll take that as a no," Duchemin said.

"But... we're a dysfunctional family," Vanya said.

"Yes."

"Didn't you say it's good to... to change that?" Vanya said. "To shed the old coping mechanisms and replace them with healthier ones?"

"I did say that," Duchemin said. "But I worry you're pushing a boulder up a hill."

Vanya straightened. "Like Sisyphus?"

Duchemin smiled. "You know your Greek mythology, I see."

"I had a... a well rounded education," Vanya murmured.

Duchemin said something else, but Vanya had tuned out. She was stuck on Sisyphus.

I'm Sisyphus, Five had said. It was one of the last things he'd told her, before The Rumor.

"Vanya?" Duchemin said. "You still with me?"

"I think Diego should be held accountable," Vanya said. "I don't want to be manipulative, but sometimes you have to... to be like that. It's the only way to get him to do what's right!"

Duchemin tilted her head. "Let's backtrack. Is this still about his jealousy issues?"

"No," Vanya said. "It's about Five. Diego still hasn't gone to visit him."