Water is Thicker than Blood

*Note: some emotional abuse is hinted at/displayed in this story. Please use your discretion if this is a sensitive topic for you.*

Twenty-four-year-old Avery Williams could be described as a lot of things, many of which were positive. She was kind, hardworking, sincere, honest. But Avery’s strongest personality trait didn’t always serve her best interests. Avery was, above all, stubborn. She didn’t - seemingly couldn’t - let things go.

Avery liked to call it perseverance as opposed to mere stubbornness. The characteristic was sometimes a good one, as it meant she had a tendency to see things through. She worked hard for what she wanted. But her friends knew all too well that Avery had a blind spot - she didn’t know when to let something drop.

This was especially true when it came to Avery’s family. They were horrible to her. Her parents were never there for her when she needed them; her sister barely spoke to her. Auntie Carol would throw Avery bread crumbs here and there, then disappear for months on end. But, despite a lifetime of this behavior from her family, Avery kept believing that they’d change.

This was a special weekend for Avery because she was competing in a national beauty pageant representing her home state of Connecticut. It could be argued that her obstinance had helped her get this far. She had set aside five tickets for family and friends.

Taylor Marcus, her best friend, had claimed her ticket months ago and planned to support her friend in every way possible. The other four tickets were still left unclaimed.

I don’t know if I’ll be up to it, Auntie Carol had texted Avery six weeks ago and then…crickets. Avery reached out again a few weeks later and got the same response with a halfhearted I’ll try, tacked onto the end of the text.

“You know I’ll be there,” gushed Avery’s mother into the phone back in March. “I’ll get all dressed up and watch my daughter win the crown!” As of this past Monday in the middle of May, Nancy Williams explained that she’d forgotten all about it and had no time to make plans to get ready. After all, she couldn’t be seen looking plain in a setting like that, Mrs. Williams defended herself to her daughter. She seemed to have conveniently forgotten that she’d had months to prepare for the event.

And so it went; her father thought beauty pageants were stupid. Why do you always do such foolish things? Whats wrong with you? When will you grow up!! The words reverberated in Avery’s mind as she mentally beat herself up over her own pursuits and interests.

Her sister didn’t respond. Apparently, it meant too little to Emma to even pretend to care.

Avery felt confused and heartbroken and decided she’d ask Taylor what her opinion of all this was.

“Avery, you know I told you I’d be sitting there alone if you asked your family instead of other friends. You know what they’re like. Why would you feel they’d change now? They’ve been acting this way your entire life!” Taylor hadn’t meant to sound harsh, but her frustration was apparent as the words escaped her mouth.

“Thats easy for you to say!” came Avery’s angry retort. “You have a family who loves you! You have family support! It isn’t fair!”

Taylor admitted that, while she did have family support (and how it wasn’t fair that Avery didn’t), the facts still remained, well, facts. It didn’t change the reality of the situation. “What I think you need to focus on are the people who do support you. I’m one of them. And Amelia is a pretty good friend. I bet that she’d come.”

The line went quiet for a moment as if Avery might have been pondering this. Then, “No!” came so loudly through the speaker of Taylor’s cell phone that she dropped it in surprise.

“Those tickets are for my family - I want a supportive family, so I’m gonna have one!” Taylor hadn’t even yet put her phone back to her ear, but had heard every word due to the sheer volume of Avery’s shrieks.

“You sound like a two-year-old,” Taylor replied. “And don’t yell at me!”

There was the equivalence of a “click” as the line disconnected.

Avery had hung up the phone. Taylor sighed. She felt for her best friend, she really did. But she also knew that Avery could potentially be stuck in a lifelong rut if she didn’t break the pattern of abuse. She decided to text her friend back and wrote, Go your own way. When she received no response, Taylor tried again, Don’t let them ruin any more of your life.

That got a response.

THEY OWE ME! came the written shout. Immediately followed by, They’ll be there. You’ll see.

Apparently, the case was closed.

It was Wednesday and the pageant was on Saturday night. There was so much to do to prepare. The hair and makeup tutorial set up for tomorrow at Isabella’s Salon in New Haven. Final touches were being made to her evening gown and she had to pick it up on Friday morning. Then pack all her stuff before she and Taylor called an Uber to get to the airport. There, they were taking a direct flight to Atlanta, Georgia where the nationwide pageant was being held.

Despite Avery’s tight schedule, all she could think about were the parents, siblings, cousins and grandparents that would be cheering on their state’s representative. Their daughters/sisters/granddaughters. Tears stung in Avery’s eyes.

Suddenly, her phone pinged and Avery saw it was a text from Amelia Johnson, an acquaintance whom Avery had met through local pageants. They’d stayed in touch and there was potential for a deeper friendship if only Avery would put in the effort.

Do you need help with anything in preparation for Saturday? Avery read the text quickly. She couldn’t think of anything she needed aside from her family to be there.

She texted back, Thanks, I’m all set. Hope you’re rooting for me!

May I call?

Avery was surprised at Amelia’s question but texted back, Sure.

A moment later, the two were talking about Amelia’s best friend, Jennie. She confided in Avery that Jennie wasn’t putting much effort into their friendship anymore. Amelia did all the inviting. She always went to Jennie’s town to meet up when it was convenient for Jennie. Jennie was never there when Amelia needed something.

“That doesn’t sound like a best friend to me,” Avery told her now.

“I know. What do you think I should do about it?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” asked Avery, surprised. “Pull away for awhile and choose your own path. Follow your own dreams.” Avery bit her lip after that last remark. She knew that Amelia still longed to be in the pageant world. But now pageants were a sensitive topic for the young woman; she’d quit at Jennie’s urging. Apparently, Jennie thought that pageants were for airheads and Amelia wanted to prove herself to her so-called best friend.

Avery paused before continuing, “Maybe you could come see me at the pageant on Saturday. I know it isn’t much notice, but I have an extra ticket. There might still be flights to Atlanta available for that day.” God, she sounded desperate, but she really wanted her friend to get back into the pageant world. Not to mention that Avery wanted her own cheering section. As of right now, she had exactly one person rooting for Miss Connecticut.

The line was silent for a moment and then Amelia spoke. “Would you really like me to come?” Avery couldn’t read the tone behind the words and wondered what Amelia was thinking.

“Avery?”

“Oh! Yes, I’d really like for you to come if you can arrange it.”

Realizing it might be too late to give her reserved tickets to anyone so late, Avery saw red for the millionth time. How can they do this to me? They promised! But had they? If her family wanted to be there, they’d have planned for it, Avery knew. She also knew that they just didn’t care about Avery or her goals and achievements. But this time she didn’t cry like she usually did. This time, Avery felt positively livid…and then she felt something else. Something new. It was a feeling of freedom. One by one, she went through her phone to her family contacts. First her sister, Emma. Hitting the “Block Caller” option felt surprisingly liberating. Next was Auntie Carol. Block. Mom. Block. Dad. Block.

Just those four small actions that took mere minutes of her time made Avery feel more in control of her own life. There was a sadness that came with that feeling, but then, there had always been sadness for Avery when it came to those four.

Realizing how grateful she should be to have won a statewide competition as she had - one that required much more than mere beauty - Avery almost felt ashamed at her recent behavior. It was a real honor to even participate in an event like that, let alone win it. The competition demanded a strong public speaking ability, quick and clever responses to unknown questions, and the skill to carry oneself as a leader.

So many other capable young ladies were likely crying to their own families over not winning the crown. Yet here was Avery with the crown, crying over people who didn’t care that she’d won it. Leaders don’t beg, she told herself now. She realized that she should be inspiring others with inner strength. Otherwise, she really didn’t deserve the state title at all.

* * * * * * * * *

Four Weeks Later

Avery hadn’t won the National beauty competition she’d participated in over three weeks ago now. No one blood related sat in the audience. But two soul sisters had been there. Their names were Taylor and Amelia. Plenty of other audience members had also cheered on Miss Connecticut and Avery had felt elated.

Despite not acquiring a title that night, the young contestant felt she’d won something far more important than an annual contest. Avery had won her own self-respect.

She helped Amelia become confident enough to pursue her true interests. She’d become the leader that she had only pretended to be when she’d first accepted the title of Miss Connecticut.

New friendships blossomed as Avery made room for meaningful connections.

Avery had perceived in twenty-four years what some people don’t learn in a lifetime. You can’t lose what you don’t have. But realizing and accepting that can gain you the world.