Veronica is 32-
As a brain injured person, do you forget the mean things people do to you?
Veronica sometimes talks to people she was involved with in the past that were not good to her. She simply forgets the mean things they say and do to her. She contacts them over and over and continues to talk to them after they contact her. Each time she tells me who she is talking to and each time I must remind her of how they treated her. Greg and I will always protect Veronica from the men that do not have good intentions that want to spend time with her.
I wish we could protect her from herself sometimes. Sometime in 2022, Veronica’s best friend from 1st grade sent me a text, saying she didn’t want to be friends with Veronica anymore. She asked if it would be better if I told Veronica or she told Veronica. I don’t know why she asked that question, but I decided to tell Veronica. The “friend” didn’t even let me know why she chose this, and it was so unexpected I became so flustered, and I forgot to ask.
Veronica was very depressed and having a very hard time handling things day to day at the time. I thought, somehow, I could be gentler with Veronica’s feelings. Veronica didn’t show a lot of emotion at the time and didn’t ask why her “friend” didn’t tell her herself. Veronica continued to mention this situation for days. In the end it was absolutely devastating for Veronica.
Here we are, about two years later, and Veronica has forgotten the hurt she felt over this loss. When she decided to write a letter letting this “friend” know she misses her, I became very angry. I don’t want Veronica to reach out. I remember her pain. I remember my pain for her.
I stewed on this. I felt like I had a knot in my stomach and a dagger in my heart.
She just went to send the letter.
Veronica sent a second letter asking why her “friend” didn’t want contact with her anymore. They didn’t have a disagreement, and this was totally out of the blue, after a 20-year friendship. The last couple years Veronica didn’t hear from her, and we all just figured she was really busy. But now we know otherwise. Veronica does realize she may not hear back, but says it just felt good to get it off her chest.
Besides forgetting how others treat Veronica sometimes, she is also the most forgiving person I know. It is hard watching Veronica allow people in her life that don’t deserve her kindness.
Survivors/WARRIORS, do you forget how people treat you now that you have a brain injury?
A Miracle a Day, One Day at a Time: Hope After Traumatic Brain Injury
Also available on Barnes & Noble and Amazon
Have a beautiful week.
Dawn Corbelli 