"It's a pleasure to finally meet Mateo's mother," Amir said after we entered room Delta.

Me and my mother shared a glance. That was a greeting neither of us had ever heard - people usually forgot I even existed once my mother was around.

My mother took the offered hand. "The pleasure is mine. I haven't seen Mateo with eyes this clear since forever."

A joke in poor taste but Amir politely chuckled nonetheless.

"Please, sit down. I understand you're a busy woman so I'll try to keep this as brief as possible."

"Oh, no need to worry about that. I've cleared the day completely to attend this meeting. I consider this a top priority."

That was new.

"I'm glad to hear that. Hopefully, it motivates Mateo to keep on trying."

"Mateo described this place as ok, which coming from him is high praise. I figure you've already discovered he's not easily pleased." My mom said as we sat down.

Amir smiled. "Yes, it seems he's atleast made one friend so far and he's even contributed to winning the first event we held. So strictly camp-wise, I'd say he's been a success story thus far."

"And therapy-wise?" My mother asked, reading between the lines.

"Therapy wise there's still a lot of work to be done. Mateo hasn't opened up to me as yet, which is understandable as it's only been a week, but helping him through this process does require him to be transparent with me."

My mother bit her lip. "He's never been the type to readily share his feelings, unless it's cloaked behind some sarcastic comment, so that doesn't surprise me. You might get a real headache with this one."

"That's what I'm here for. In fact, that's what we're all here for - to address what Mateo may prefer to say in a more comfortable setting." He paused, gauging my expression. "This is a comfortable setting for you, right?"

I considered the question. "Nothing like the woods for comfort."

"Then do you think that this will be productive?"

"I mean...I'm sober right now so isn't it already productive?" I replied.

Amir sighed wistfully. "If only it were that simple." He turned his attention back to my mother. "Ms. Higgins-

"Please, call me Evelyn." My mother quickly interrupted. The simple gesture surprised me slightly since she rarely ever did it.

Amir took it in stride. "Right, Evelyn, I'm going to ask you a question that might be sensitive. I want you to keep in mind I wouldn't bother asking if I didn't think that it was a necessary avenue to address."

My mother nodded slowly, pressing her tongue against her cheek firmly which I knew was her way of steeling herself when she was about to receive bad news.

"Mateo's father...where is he?"

The color drained from my mother's face until she resembled the white walls outside.

It wasn't a random question about an absent father. There was a time when my father was just as viral as my mother, though not for good reason. His frequent drunken stunts became something for the haters to latch on to in hopes of tarnishing my mother's rising legacy.

Amir was currently studying my mother's reaction, much like he studied ours. For some reason, it royally pissed me off.

My mother wasn't the test dummy that needed therapy here.

"We don't know where he is," I said, surprising myself with the venom laced in my voice. "He comes and goes...he'll probably show up at home sometime before the year ends then vanish again after a week. I'm sure you know this already but I'll say it since it's what you clearly want to hear, my dad is an expert in alcoholism."

Amir nodded, giving me a sympathetic look.

I hated that look.

"How does that make you feel?"

I shrugged, glancing at my mother who was clearly still shaken up. "Regardless of how I feel or don't, I know where this conversation is going. You're going to try to tie my actions to my father's with some genetic hereditary bullcrap that just isn't true. I'm my own person and I've made and will continue to make my own decisions. If I was my father I wouldn't even still be in this stupid room or place."

Amir held up his palms innocently. "I just wanted to know how you feel about it. Clearly it's a sensitive topic and despite it not being a genetic connection like you said, it's possible that your will to not end up like your father may push you in that exact direction."

"I can confidently say I'm nothing like my father. I'm not even a heavy drinker like he is; there's really nothing to worry about on that front."

Amir nodded in a suspiciously unconvinced manner. "Do you agree, Ms. Hig-Evelyn?"

Being addressed snapped my mother of her stupor as she looked up and nodded slowly with suddenly fatigued eyes. "He's not wrong, his father is much worse." She took a deep breath. "You would've had to strap him down by now if you wanted him to stay sober this long." She chuckled at her words but it had no humor behind it.

"How about when his father's drinking problems first started? Can a comparison in their behaviors be drawn at all?" Amir questioned.

My mother hesitated.

"She already said that I don't resemble him," I snapped. "What more do you want her to say?"

My mother wasn't too out of it to forget to give me a stern look. She wasn't exactly the disciplinary type, in fact, she sucked at it. So when she did act like I stepped over a line it was usually true.

I leaned back in my chair and folded my arms, which was the closest thing he'd get to a sorry.

Amir seemed unfazed. I realize he had probably gotten snapped at his fair share. "That's alright. I want you to consider why that evoked such a strong reaction out of you."

I sighed, deciding I could atleast play along. "Because you don't believe my words."

"And why do you think that's such a big deal for you?" Amir asked.

"Because I'm not my father. And I never will be."

"Amen," my mother whispered.

"Don't you think that if you continue down this path there's a chance you end up like him?" Amir asked.

"That's why I'm here isn't it?"

Amir smiled. He seemed to particularly like that response. I almost regretted giving him the satisfaction. 

The conversation took on a calmer tone as Amir switched back to surface questions. However, I knew the earlier conversation had been a preview of things to come - considering this was only the first family session. By the time we'd finished and walked out the door, Amir had made me manage to detest the idea of family sessions more than when I'd walked in, which in itself was pretty impressive.

We walked back to my room to find quite an interesting scene. Atlas was being escorted out of the room by a woman who could only be his mother judging by the obvious resemblance. She looked...normal.

Or at least, as normal as a country bumpkin could look, which considering our geographical location, us city people were probably more out of place than her. Regardless, I felt disappointed by her ordinary appearance and kind features. Atleast it was interesting to see Atlas adopt a more reserved demeanor, with his dopey grin nowhere in sight.

Atlas stopped as they reached us. "This is Mateo, mom."

The woman smiled readily and tipped her wide-brimmed hat. "Nice to finally meet you, Mateo. My boy here has told me a bit about you when I asked if he'd found himself any companions. Hope he isn't giving you too much trouble, now?"

Deciphering her words was a task, as she talked like her lips were on a race track. "He hasn't."

"He can be a bit of a handful but he means well," she continued as if I hadn't responded. She turned to him, "Best get going to this meeting then, you know how your father gets when I'm gone for too long."

 With that, she excused herself and strode past us while Atlas somberly followed behind. My mother wore a look of genuine confusion; not only had the woman not recognized her, she'd been completely ignored.

I smirked. "Nothing like the country for a little humblin'"

My mother wasn't eager to stay for much longer, which I suspected was because she hated the place. Even if she hadn't become a superstar, I'm sure camping would've never come up on our family plans.

After saying my regretful goodbyes to Ben it was my mother's turn. She once again pulled me into a hug, this time whispering in my ear. "I don't envy you having to sit through that man trying to stare into your soul."

"No kidding."