SEPTEMBER 2020
The central theme to this series is siblinghood, and its power of relief from internal and external distress. I tell two stories about two siblings; Callum, and his sister Eve.
While driving, Eve was caught off guard by her brother’s confession: “Are you sure you’re not gay?... You know mum is going to kill you if she finds out, right? ...I always had an idea…”. For Callum, that car ride felt like an eternity. Or the continuation of one... At the end of the journey, Eve hugged Callum and said “regardless, I will always love and defend you. No matter what”. Their embrace was a strange hybrid of infinite comfort, and distance. Perhaps Eve realized she knew very little about her brother.
That morning, London was sunny. Eve rushed out to the living room where Callum awoke. She stood by, and stared out of, the living room window “I haven’t slept all night; The assholes, who had me fired at my previous firm, received a promotion.” She sniffled, took a deep breath, then sat down on the couch. “I don’t get it” She wiped away a tear rolling down her cheek. “Am I not good enough?”. The chronic low self esteem of a survivor now faced Callum as he embraced Eve. He felt powerless, unable to rewind the hands of time to protect his sister. In that moment, the only thing Callum could do was to be present.
Natural process
Expedite progress
Run free from paralysis
Cleansed of a terrible sin
Start the craved self-love