"I'm sorry. Your- Your dress and the dishes and--"
"It's all right. The dress will dry." I smooth down her hair, and give her a little smile as I say once more, "It's all right."
"Don't wanna hurt anybody. Not ever. And then I get angry and I do and... I'm sorry. I'll do better! I promise I will. I'll try!"
"I believe you," I say, my voice still soft, but my eyes meeting Alice's directly. I understand now, even more than before, how important it is for Alice to have people believe her, and to keep their promises - especially their promises to keep her safe.
"I believe you that you don't want to hurt anyone, and I believe you that it's not under your control, and I believe you that you're trying. But you don't have to do it alone, darling. It's a very very hard thing that you're trying to do, and there's nothing wrong with not knowing how to do it on your own. Will you let me help you? I know some exercises to help you focus your mind, so that you can work on not losing control when you're angry." My magic is not the same as hers, not nearly - and I do not have Carol to contend with! - but it is something, at least. "May I tell Chester that you've been struggling, so that he can help you too? He's a very good teacher. But I won't tell him anything unless you say that you want me to."
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"It's all right. The dress will dry." I smooth down her hair, and give her a little smile as I say once more, "It's all right."
"Don't wanna hurt anybody. Not ever. And then I get angry and I do and... I'm sorry. I'll do better! I promise I will. I'll try!"
"I believe you," I say, my voice still soft, but my eyes meeting Alice's directly. I understand now, even more than before, how important it is for Alice to have people believe her, and to keep their promises - especially their promises to keep her safe.
"I believe you that you don't want to hurt anyone, and I believe you that it's not under your control, and I believe you that you're trying. But you don't have to do it alone, darling. It's a very very hard thing that you're trying to do, and there's nothing wrong with not knowing how to do it on your own. Will you let me help you? I know some exercises to help you focus your mind, so that you can work on not losing control when you're angry." My magic is not the same as hers, not nearly - and I do not have Carol to contend with! - but it is something, at least. "May I tell Chester that you've been struggling, so that he can help you too? He's a very good teacher. But I won't tell him anything unless you say that you want me to."