And shortly after, my dad ended up passing. I went to college, Mika dropped out of college and became a full-time bartender, and we haven’t really healed from the situation. Well, I’ve had conversations with my mom, come to peace with it, but Mika, not so much.

“I’m, uh, I’m surprised Mika told you that,” I say as I stick the sleeping bag in the bin.

“He doesn’t tell me much about your family, honestly, but it was during his rough time, and mine at that. It was a drunk night. He was raging about Matt and then mentioned that at least Matt didn’t cheat on me like his mom cheated on your dad. He said it in passing, and I wasn’t really sure if it was true or not, but I guess seeing the way you treat this marriage counseling thing and the way you look after Mika, I just put two and two together. I’m sorry if I’m overstepping.”

I shake my head. “You’re not. You’re Mika’s friend first, so I guess there are some things you know about my family that I might not have thought that you knew.”

“That’s about it.”

I nod and then start rolling up the tent. “Yeah, well, I’ve come to peace with my mom and what she did. I don’t agree with it, but I also understand it. My dad didn’t even talk. He was…he was not the man that he was before the accident. It was hard on her, and I sound like I’m making excuses.”

“You’re not,” Scottie says. “That’s…that’s a tough situation. I honestly can’t imagine. I know what it’s like to feel loneliness. I’ve been there. Sure, Matt was able to walk and talk, but I also lived in a house with a man who didn’t care to acknowledge or appreciate me. I know what that could do to a person.”

I look up at her, the understanding in her eyes breaking down a wall inside me that I didn’t even know existed. Because…she gets it. It’s so hard talking to people about my mom, especially Mika. I don’t agree with or condone what my mom did. It’s terrible actually, but then again, if I step back and I put myself in her shoes, how could I possibly observe as a bystander and judge her? She lost her husband in that car accident. She was taking care of two kids. Being a caretaker for her husband who couldn’t even acknowledge her. Working overtime. She was stressed and…and needed that comfort. Was it wrong? Yes. Do I understand it? I sort of do.