Chapter 22
Charity is sprawled on the sofa flicking through a magazine disinterestedly when Diane comes home from the B&B. "Hiya Charity, are you not going to the Pride event that Charles and Ethan have organised, pet?"
Charity looks up from her magazine with a look of complete disdain. "Why would I go to that?"
"Well, to celebrate who you are, the community you're part of.."
She scoffs. "No one wants to celebrate me, Diane. And what have I got to be proud of, eh? Lost the woman I loved, abandoned my kids, alienated most of the village. Everyone hates me because I'm a terrible person. And frankly, I don't blame them!"
"That's not true, Charity. Yes, you made some bad decisions, yes you hurt some people.."
"Alright Diane, cheers for the sympathy.." Charity interrupts.
"But!" Diane continues. "You're still here. You survived. You're slowly getting your life back on track. And deep down, that sassy, caring, big hearted, proud woman still exists and longs to be cared for and accepted for who she is."
"Maybe if I still had Ness." She admits sadly. "She would have loved something like this. Would have dragged me along. And I would have let her. Because I was proud. I was proud of her. Of our family. Of myself! I had it all. But right now, I don't want to be reminded of anything to do with her. And how much I've lost. So no, Diane, I won't be going."
Diane looks at her sadly. "Sorry pet." She pauses and turns to head into the kitchen. "Maybe next year, eh?" she says as she pops her head 'round the corner from inside the kitchen.
Charity just rolls her eyes and goes back to her magazine, wishing desperately that she could still proudly call herself Vanessa's fiancée..