**13 years ago**
"NATALIE KRISTIN!" Dan yelled.
Natalie skipped cheerfully up to Dan. "Yes, Daddy?" she asked.
"What is this on the wall?"
"A pic-shure."
"How did this get on here?"
"I drewed it with my crayons. Do you like it?"
"NO! Natalie, we do NOT draw on the wall… ESPECIALLY WITH CRAYONS!"
"Why?"
"Cuz… cuz it's wrong, that's why!"
"Oh."
"What?"
"I drewed more. There's one in the bathroom, one on the ki-shun counter, one in my bedroom…"
"And why did you draw them?"
"Cuz Mommy don't like me. She's talking to my brother. Again."
"Nat, answer this question for me: do you know your brother?"
"Yeah. His name is Gabriel, or is it Gabe?"
"Gabe is short for Gabriel. Now, do you see your brother?"
"No. Mommy always said he was invisible to me, but she can see him when she wants. I don't get why I can't see my brother. He's fam-ly isn't he?"
"Yes, he is. Wait here." Dan walked to the bedroom and pounded on the door. "DIANA GOODMAN, OPEN THIS DOOR IMMEDIATELY! I AM NOT KIDDING HERE!"
"What?" Diana said as she opened the door.
"We have to talk. Now."
"Why?"
"Cuz I said so!" Dan ran in and mostly shut the door. "Diana, you are in big trouble."
"Why?"
"Natalie is talking about her brother, whom she claims she doesn't see. It's thanks to you."
"No, it's thanks to you."
"Look, Natalie may have happened someday."
"What if she was a boy?"
"Not the point, Diana. People are going to think Natalie is crazy when she gets older if we continue to let her talk the way she does about her 'invisible' older brother."
"She has the right to know she has an older brother."
"Yes, but she's 3. She's too little to understand. You know nothing on raising kids."
"I suppose you've done it before?"
"Oh my god, Diana. Keep this up, and Natalie will be having to see Dr. Madden too, and not just when she comes with you to your appointments."
"Shut up. The girl is gonna be fine."
"The girl? Diana, she's your daughter. You can't refer to Natalie as some sort of indirect object. That's…"
"Stop telling me what to do. Just cuz I still keep Gabe in my heart…"
"DAMN IT, WOMAN! This is not about Gabe! This is about Natalie!"
"I don't care about Natalie!"
Natalie stood by the door, listening to every word, then she burst into tears. Dan opened the door to see Natalie crying. "What's the matter?"
"Mommy… doesn't… care… about… me!" Natalie sobbed.
Dan gave Diana a death stare. "Great job! You made your living child cry."
Diana sighed. "Natalie, I'm sorry. I was mad. People say things they don't mean when they're mad." Diana got up to hug Natalie, but Natalie ran away screaming. "Nat?"
"Go away!" Natalie screamed. "You said you didn't care about me! All you care about is fucking Gabe!"
Dan and Diana gasped in horror. They knew how to calm down an upset 3 year old, but they didn't know what to do with a swearing 3 year old.