"They'd love that, wouldn't they?" Kelly said softly. "They'd talk about me for years."
"Exactly. Your absence would give them something to complain about for the next decade. Oh, remember how Kelly didn't even show up for Celia's wedding? Classic Kelly, always thinking of herself."
Kelly's breathing steadied as the fog of emotion began to clear. Amy was right. Walking away would only confirm everything her family believed about her. It wouldn't hurt them; it would validate them.
"Your mother would probably tell the story at every family gathering," Amy added. "And your brother and sister would pile on about how the big city has changed you for the worse.”
"Rob would do that," Kelly said, warming to the theme. "He'd use it as an example of why he's the responsible sibling."
"See? You're giving them ammunition," Amy said triumphantly. "And for what? So you can sit alone in your apartment feeling miserable? At least if you go to the wedding, you get cake."
Kelly leaned back against the couch cushions, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease slightly. Amy's practical perspective was helping her see past the emotional storm that had been clouding her judgment.
"And as for your family all being happy when you're not there," Amy went on, "I call bullshit. From what I've heard about them, they're all miserable, and they hate that you escaped. They're pissed as hell that you're not there in Bergen, miserable alongside them."
The observation landed with surprising weight. Kelly had never considered it from that angle before. Her family's constant criticism of her life choices, their dismissal of her career, and their insistence that she should want what they wanted. It all looked different through this lens.
"You really think so?" Kelly asked.
"Think about it. Your sister is doing exactly what your parents want, and is she happy? Your brother is the golden child following the approved path, and is he a joy to be around? Your parents got everything they wanted from those two, and do they seem satisfied? No, they're still picking at you because you're the one who got away. You're living proof that there's another option, and the one thing they don’t want their kids to have is options."
Kelly's throat tightened unexpectedly. "I never thought of it that way."
"Well, start thinking of it that way. Go to that damn wedding and smile. Don't give them the satisfaction of knowing they made you sad, too."
Kelly pictured herself walking into the wedding tomorrow, head held high, refusing to be diminished by her family's expectations or judgments. The image was surprisingly powerful.
"Besides," Amy added, "if you don't go, Celia wins too. She becomes the martyr whose selfish sister ruins her special day. Is that what you want?"
"God, no," Kelly said with feeling. The thought of Celia playing the victim while simultaneously feeling vindicated about Kelly's absence was enough to make her reconsider all on its own.
"So you'll go to the wedding?"
Kelly sighed, but it was a sound of resignation rather than despair. "Yes, I'll go."
"Good. Wear something amazing. Look happy. It will drive them crazy."
Kelly almost laughed at that. It was such an Amy solution. But there was wisdom in it too.
"Okay, so I go to the wedding, smile like my life is perfect, and don't let them see me sweat," Kelly summarized. "I can do that."
"Exactly. Kill them with contentment," Amy said. "But there's one problem with this plan."
"What's that?"
"You've sent away your ride to the wedding. And from what you've told me about Bergen, there aren't exactly Ubers waiting on every corner."
The practical reality of her situation hit Kelly afresh. In her emotional state, she'd forgotten the logistical problem she now faced. "I didn't think about that."
Frankly, logistical problems were the least of her worries. Her emotions were taking top billing at the moment.
"Which brings us to your second issue," Amy said, her voice taking on an even more direct tone. "The Ben problem."
Kelly's stomach tightened in anticipation. She'd needed Amy's perspective on her family situation, but she wasn't sure she was ready to face what her friend might say about Ben.
"I'm listening," Kelly said, bracing herself.
"You better be," Amy replied, and Kelly could practically see her roommate's no-nonsense expression through the phone. "Because what I'm about to say, you really need to hear."
