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“No,” I say into the phone, cutting her off “Not about the crash”

“Oh,” she says softly, but not in a surprised way There are other types of guilt we’ve discussed in the past “Sorry”

“Don’t apologize,” I say gently “But this … I don’t know… a little bad that things are going so well That I’ a little guilty that I’uilty”

And… what I can’t tell you is that I’ about you in ways that tellsthe only woman I think about

Nora chuckles, the sound reassuring I can hear in her a is actually norood news It , but you’re also constantly assessing your feelings You’re very aware of the way you used to feel and how different that is fro now It’s probably a little weird for you, I’m sure, but please don’t worry about it”

“You’re sure?” I ask dubiously

She asks a question instead “Why don’t you deserve happiness, Tacker? Shouldn’t everyone?”

“I guess,” I h ain “But is there a ti that’s acceptable I should be striving for? I o froo to…”

Words once again drift away

“Happiness?” she guesses “Joy in life? Understanding of your feelings?”

“It’s a lot to try to understand”

She’s quiet for a moment, as she often is e’re in session Nora likes to process things, and it’s not unusual for her to take a hts

Finally, she says, “Helen took me from Drenica after the massacre, and I latched onto her I ht away Do you think that ot my family?”

“Of course not,” I exclai

“Do you think by loving Helen that I loved my family any less?”

“No,” I reply, understanding her point

Still, she throws one rateful to her for giving me a new chance at life, do you think I was done with ?”

“I highly doubt it” How could any child get over so like that quickly?

“Grief and healing are individual,” she says “There’s no time period No book that lays out the rules I’ve known some people who need years to process loss in a healthy manner while othersabout what others think, then you’re in the wrong headspace You only have to worry about what you think”