Lisa drove slowly toward the school, glancing at Mike in the rearview mirror, his gaze fixed out the window. The silence was heavy, the weight of their past still lingering. The town felt unfamiliar, a new start that Lisa hoped would bring healing, but she worried about Mike, who had been quieter since his father’s death.
As Mike got out of the car, Lisa called, “Have a good day, sweetie! Be brave!” Later, when she picked him up, his bright eyes and excited skip lifted her spirits. “Mom! I made a new friend! Her name is Sophie!”
Lisa smiled in relief, glad the move might be helping them. Sophie became a frequent topic in their conversations. One afternoon, Mike ran to her, grinning. “Sophie invited me to her house tomorrow!”
Lisa asked, “I’ll need to talk to her parents first.” Mike handed her a crumpled note with Sophie’s mom’s number, and Lisa sent a quick text. Sophie’s mom replied enthusiastically, and Lisa felt a bit more at ease.
The next day, she and Mike arrived at Sophie’s house. As Mike knocked eagerly, Lisa was stunned when the door opened, revealing Alice, her high school nemesis. “Lisa,” Alice greeted with a strained smile.
Lisa responded coolly, the tension palpable. Inside, the silence between them was thick. The memories of high school bullying came rushing back—Alice had always humiliated her. The evening ended awkwardly, and they parted ways with cold words.
Later, Lisa received a call from Mike’s teacher, who revealed that Mike was accused of bullying Sophie. Shocked and upset, Lisa confronted Alice, who insisted it was true, even though no one had witnessed it. Alice’s comments about Lisa’s parenting only fueled her anger.
After the meeting, Lisa was fuming. But then Alice showed up at her door, apologizing. She confessed that she’d lied about Mike out of jealousy. Alice revealed she had left an abusive marriage and admired Lisa’s strength, which had led to her feelings of inadequacy.
“I’m sorry,” Alice said, tears in her eyes.
Lisa, still processing, invited her in. “Let’s start with some wine. We have a lot to talk about.” Alice hugged her, and for the first time, Lisa felt the anger melt away. They were both carrying their own burdens.
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