The need of others to demonstrate their affections almost immobilises her at times.
Caught in the headlights of their emotions, whether expressed in words, gifts or physicality, she flounders. Love is an anathema to her, brought up as she was in a household where other currencies prevailed… spite, anger, violence.
She’s working on it though.
Her therapist says she owes it to herself to release her inhibitions.
Says she needs to bridge the gap between her world and the real one.
To release her ‘loving soul’.
Meh!
She puts away the paint remover, stows the sponge and walks on.
Tomorrow maybe.
Thanks as ever to Rochelle, for her leadership and continued commitment to Friday Fictioneers.
castelsarrasin 
The conflict of inner strife is apparent, where buried emotional pasts are difficult to wipe away.
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Thanks for reading, James.
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Christmas has The Grunch and Valentines Day has her.
Childhood trauma runs deep. But she might be making improvements, baby steps at a time.
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Thanks for reading, Tanille.
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Wonderfully done, Sandra. We not “one size fits all” and to not have known love in childhood makes it a helluva lot harder to understand it as an adult. I like that she hasn’t written herself off completely.
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Progress is slow, but there is progress. Thanks for reading, Dale,
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🙂
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What a stunning take on the prompt. Well done.
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Many thanks, Mason.
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Great insight in this one, Sandra and beautifully written and I really felt such a sense of sadness for her at the end and for those I know who are stuck in a similar spot.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Many thanks, Rowena.
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I like that she’s holding a tiny bit of hope underneath all that pain. So much of our past shapes the way we are, and if all she’s doing is scrubbing at least she isn’t inflicting her pain on others.
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Thanks for reading, Jen.
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Wonderful character sketch, Sandra
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Many thanks, Neil.
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What we learn from our parents… Nicely done as always, Sandra.
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And half the time we don’t even know we’re learning it. Thanks for reading, Iain.
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Dear Sandra,
It’s hard to give something that was never given. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for reading, Rochelle.
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A great character sketch, and a great opening line.
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Thanks for reading, Michael. Take care.
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Having a therapist offers some hope. As you said, tomorrow maybe.
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Thanks, Keith.
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Perhaps her therapist needs to start avoiding cliches!
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They have their own language, I think. Thanks for reading, Liz.
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Says she needs to bridge the gap between her world and the real one. This line struck a note. It’s apparent she’s been hurt but who is he/she to say which world is real
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Indeed. Thanks for reading Alicia.
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Excellent, Sandra. We are each doing the best we can. What makes a person?
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Good question, Bill. Nature, nurture, experiences… Thanks for reading.
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🙂
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I empathized with her.
We are all her, i suppose.
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To one degree or another, possibly. Thanks for reading, Dawn.
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It’s hard, maybe impossible to overcome the things ingrained in us during childhood. The desire to change can go a long way. It looks like she’s taken the first steps.
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It’s a journey, for sure. Thanks for reading.
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The ending was super anticlimactic, but I enjoyed it. You have a sharp sense of humour.
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Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Great take on he prompt ❤
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Many thanks.
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if anything, there’s hope. she still sees her therapist.
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Thanks for reading.
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Baby steps. Nicely done, Sandra, great take on the prompt.
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Thanks for reading.
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🙂
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She will get there in her own time.
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Thanks for reading.
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“brought up as she was in a household where other currencies prevailed.” A wonderful phrase and poignant story, Sandra. Well done.
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Thanks for reading. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Good story Sandra! Thought provoking.
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Seems like a long time since we saw you on the squares, Nan. Thanks for reading.
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My mind says you’re describing an “anti-love” vigilant that has been removing external demonstrations of affection? If she does that to the heart graffiti, I wonder what she does to those kissing in public… Fascinating malady that it sounds like she might be recovering from. It’s tough when the ugly emotions are the only ones you’ve witnessed during your upbringing.
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Her therapist is right. Hopefully one day, she’ll release her inhibitions.
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I hope she has the patience and faith in herself to be able to explore love and what it might mean for her. So sad that all she’s known are negative emotions.
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