Meeting an Afton

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The day after Elizabeth opened up to Christopher; William and Vanessa decided that they needed to do something to help Elizabeth with her survivors guilt. The first thing they did was call Ballora and see if she could offer any advice on how to deal with this. So as soon as they woke up, Vanessa dialed Ballora's number. After a few seconds, Ballora answered.

"Hello."

"Ballora? This is Vanessa." Vanessa said.

"Hey, Vanessa. How are things?" Ballora asked.

"Fine." Vanessa said.

"How's Elizabeth doing?" Ballora asked. "Has she settled in?"

"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." Vanessa told her.

"Is everything okay?" Ballora asked worried. "She's not in trouble is she?"

"No, she's fine." Vanessa reassured her. "She and the boys get along great and she's settling in slowly."

"That's a relief." Ballora sighed. "So what seems to be the problem?"

"Well, last night, Elizabeth opened up to Chris last night about her family's death." Vanessa started. "What we learned is that Elizabeth blames herself for her family's death. Carter has deducted this as survivors guilt."

"I see. That explains her fear of cars." Ballora said. "I had suspected that she had survivors guilt but I couldn't do anything to help her because she wouldn't talk to me or my husband."

"I see. Is that why she never saw a therapist?" Vanessa asked.

"I did take her to see a few therapists." Ballora answered. "But, she wouldn't say anything to them. They told me that she would just look at the ground or play with her sweatshirt zipper. They also said that she would get more and more uncomfortable with each question she was asked. So after her third session, I stopped taking her."

"Do you have any suggestions to help us deal with Elizabeth's survival guilt?" Vanessa asked.

Ballora didn't answer right away. She had to think about this one. Elizabeth's condition was that she felt that she should have been in the car with her family when they died. She also knew that Elizabeth blamed herself for what happened to her family. After a few seconds of thinking, she came up with something. But before she could give Vanessa and William an answer, she had to be sure if something first.

"Vanessa, before I give you an answer, would I ask you something first?" Ballora asked.

"Of course." Vanessa answered.

"Has Elizabeth bonded with any of your sons? Has she gotten close to any of them at all?" Ballora asked.

The question took Vanessa off by surprise. She had to think about this carefully. The first few days she lived with them, she spent most of her time alone or with Coraline. However, she did notice that she seemed most comfortable around Christopher. Out of all her son's, he seemed to be trying the hardest to help her get settled in. She also took in the fact that Elizabeth opened up to him about her family and he was there to comfort her. She also remembered Christopher was the one who brought up the old kiddie table for her when she wouldn't sit at the normal dining room table. Not only did he do that, but he also sat with her at the kiddie table. No doubt, Vanessa had her answer.