"I understand."
I rise and open my door as she walks through the front one.
"Hi. Can I help you?" Amy asks.
"Push my schedule back a bit," I state, then motion for Skylar to come into my office.
She brushes past me, looking pale, upset, and exhausted. She sits, folds her hands tight in her lap, and bluntly declares, "She told me she wants to hurt herself. Is that because of you?"
The question lands heavy, but I don't flinch. "Last night?"
Skylar nods, blinking hard.
I push the box of tissue toward her and assert, "I can't go into specifics on Blue's self-harm issues without her permission or presence. However, I will assure you I do everything I can to get her to find other avenues to deal with her emotions."
Her jaw tightens. "Then tell me this—has she been safe?"
I choose my words with surgical care. "Again, I can only tell you that she's working very hard to change harmful behaviors. And she has been safe for the longest sustained period I'm aware of."
She scrunches her face and looks down. A tear falls down her cheek. She asks, "Because of you?"
"No. Because of her own desire to be safer."
Skylar slowly meets my gaze.
Silence stretches between us.
"I wish I could reassure you more. But the most important thing right now is stability. Removing support abruptly can be dangerous."
Her eyes turn to slits. She fires, "You mean you don't want her to leave you?"
I take a deep breath and answer, "Yes, I don't want her to leave me. I love her. But I meant any support. That includes you and Mr. Ivanov in her life."
"Of course we're going to be in her life," Skylar snaps.
I hold my hands in the air. "I didn't mean to insinuate you don't want to be."
Skylar's eyes fall on the hourglass. She absentmindedly asks, "You want us to trust you."
I correct. "That would be nice, but I'm not a fool. I'm asking you to trust Blue, and to not make fear-driven decisions."
She pins her focus on me. "Do you have children?"
"No. Not yet."
"You're how old?"
"Forty."
"My daughter is twenty-five."
"I'm aware."
"Aren't you going to tell me she's more mature for her age?" Skylar questions.
"No. And I'm fully aware how this looks and what you and Mr. Ivanov must think about Blue and my relationship," I add.
She scoffs, then blinks, and more tears fall.
