American Mafia- His wife and Kids

Chapter 21

3rd person POV

The days following the outburst were heavy with a silence that seemed to deepen with each passing hour. The usual warmth that filled their home was replaced with a cold, suffocating air. Emery stayed mostly in her room, her presence felt only by the weight of her absence. When she did emerge, it was as though she had become a shadow of herself, moving quietly, almost as if she was afraid to draw attention.

James and Amalia watched her with growing concern. The fiery spirit that had once animated their daughter seemed extinguished, replaced by a pervasive sadness that clung to her like a dark cloud. She barely spoke, offering only short, quiet answers when spoken to, and even then, her voice was devoid of the warmth and spark they were used to.

Amalia, already struggling with her own guilt and anxiety, was beside herself with worry. Her breasts were painfully engorged with milk, a constant reminder of the distance between her and Emery. Despite the physical discomfort, it was the emotional pain that cut the deepest. She longed to comfort her daughter, to hold her close and nourish her, but Emery seemed to withdraw further with each attempt. Amalia felt helpless, her heart breaking a little more each time Emery flinched away from her touch.

James tried to reach out as well, but he too was met with a wall of silence. The bond they had always shared, the trust and love that had been the foundation of their relationship, felt fragile and strained. He knew Emery was drowning in guilt, that the words she had spoken during the argument weighed heavily on her, but she refused to let him in, refused to let anyone help her carry the burden.

The boys, Luciano and Adriano, were equally troubled. They missed their sister's laughter, her lightness that had always brought a sense of joy to their lives. They tried to engage her, offering to play games or watch movies together, but Emery only shook her head, retreating further into her shell. They could see the pain in her eyes, the guilt that seemed to consume her, and it scared them.

By the end of the weekend, it became clear that they needed outside help. James made the decision to bring in a therapist, someone who could help Emery navigate the storm of emotions that had overwhelmed her. He hoped that speaking to a professional might give her the tools to process her feelings, to find a way back to the light.

The therapist, Dr. Sullivan, was a kind and patient woman with years of experience working with children and teenagers. When she arrived, Emery was hesitant at first, resistant to the idea of talking to a stranger about the turmoil inside her. But Dr. Sullivan had a gentle way about her, a calm presence that slowly began to break through the walls Emery had built around herself.

During their first session, Emery was reluctant to open up, answering Dr. Sullivan's questions with one-word responses, her gaze fixed on the floor. But as the session went on, the therapist's patience began to wear down her defenses. It was when Dr. Sullivan gently asked about the guilt Emery was carrying that the dam finally broke.

Emery burst into tears, her sobs wracking her small frame as she poured out all the pain, fear, and guilt that had been festering inside her. She confessed how much she regretted the hurtful words she had said to her father, how she hated herself for lashing out at her family, and how she felt like she didn't deserve their love or forgiveness. She spoke about the crushing weight of knowing the truth about her biological father, and how it made her feel tainted and unworthy.

Dr. Sullivan listened intently, offering words of comfort and reassurance, but also gently pushing Emery to confront the irrationality of her guilt. The therapist emphasized that it was okay to feel angry, that it was okay to make mistakes, and that what mattered most was how she moved forward. Emery cried through most of the session, but by the end, there was a small glimmer of relief in her eyes, a tiny spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, she could find a way out of the darkness.

Meanwhile, Amalia and James were on edge, anxiously waiting for any sign of improvement. The strain of watching their daughter suffer was taking its toll on them both. Amalia struggled with her own emotions, feeling guilty for not being able to reach Emery in her time of need. James, usually the rock of the family, was visibly shaken, his frustration at being unable to protect his daughter gnawing at him.

After the session, Dr. Sullivan spoke privately with James and Amalia, expressing her concern about the depth of Emery's depression and anxiety. She recommended regular therapy sessions and suggested that they take things one day at a time, offering their daughter unconditional love and support as she worked through her feelings.

The next few days were a delicate balance of giving Emery space while also making sure she knew she wasn't alone. Slowly, very slowly, there were small signs of improvement. Emery began to emerge from her room more often, though she was still quiet and subdued. She started to respond more during conversations, and there were moments when her eyes held a flicker of the old Emery, the girl who had always been so full of life.

Amalia noticed that Emery was beginning to come to her more often, seeking out her presence even if she didn't say much. One evening, Amalia found Emery curled up on the couch, looking lost and unsure. Without a word, Amalia sat beside her and gently pulled her into her arms. To her relief, Emery didn't resist. She rested her head on her mother's chest, and for the first time in days, Amalia felt her daughter relax, if only slightly.

As the days passed, Emery began to show more signs of healing. She started drinking her mother's breastmilk again, hesitantly at first, but then with more regularity. The simple act of nurturing seemed to comfort both mother and daughter, and Amalia felt a deep sense of relief as the bond between them slowly began to mend.

James and the boys were equally attentive, making sure Emery knew how much they loved her, how much she meant to them. There were still moments of sadness, moments when Emery's guilt threatened to overwhelm her again, but with the support of her family and the guidance of Dr. Sullivan, she was beginning to find her way back.

A week later, Emery was still far from her usual self, but the shadows that had loomed so large were beginning to recede. She smiled more often, and there were times when the laughter that had once filled their home began to make a tentative return. The road to recovery was long, and there would be setbacks along the way, but for the first time in what felt like forever, there was hope. The family was beginning to heal, and together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.