Team8s and Counting

182. The Space Between Us

Needle was in agreement with Pin. "I think you need to be the one to go talk to him, Pin."

Pin nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, I'll go. Sometimes a fresh voice can help him see things differently." She placed a reassuring hand on Coiny's shoulder. "But don't beat yourself up, okay? You've done your best, and that's all anyone can ask for."

Coiny gave her a faint smile, though his eyes still betrayed his lingering guilt. "Thanks, Pin. I just want him to know how much I love him."

"I'll make sure he knows," Pin said firmly. She got up and headed down the hall toward Dimey's room, giving Needle a glance that said, Keep an eye on him.

As Pin approached Dimey's door, she could hear faint sounds of him shuffling around inside. She knocked gently. "Dimey? It's me, Mom. Can I come in?"

There was a pause, and then Dimey's voice came through, muffled but firm. "Fine."

Pin opened the door, taking a seat next to Dimey, who was clearly upset about what happened. "I'm sorry that daddy couldn't help you with your homework today. He told me that he really wanted to help you, but that he had to be with Thread at that moment."

"Did he?" Dimey said with a stern tone. "Did he really want to be with me? Because it feels like Every time I need him, something with Thread always comes up. It's like I'm not important."

Pin grabbed his hand. "You are important Dimey, you and Thread both. Me, Dad, and Mom want to help you guys whenever we can. And Dad, he was really excited to help you with your homework. But when Thread's jar broke, she had a really hard time. She wasn't just upset—it was like her brain couldn't handle everything at once. Your dad had to step in and help her because she couldn't calm herself down on her own."

Dimey frowned. "But why does she always need so much help? Why can't she just deal with stuff like the rest of us?"

Pin smiled gently. "That's a good question. The truth is, everyone's brain works a little differently. Thread's brain gets overwhelmed more easily, and when that happens, she needs someone to help her feel safe again. It's not that your dad loves her more—it's that she needed help right then and there."

"But...it still feels like she's more important," Dimey muttered, his voice small but filled with hurt. "Like...she gets all the attention because she screams whenever she doesn't get what she wants."

Pin scooted a little closer and wrapped an arm around him. "I know it feels that way sometimes, and I'm sorry. But when she has those moments, I try to understand how she feels, and you know what she says to me?"

"What?" Dimey asked.

Pin took a deep breath. "She says she doesn't want to be this way. She wishes she could handle her emotions like everyone else. She doesn't want to take Dad, or any of us, away from you Dimey."

"How do you know that?" Dimey asked softly.

Pin closed her eyes, taking a trip down memory lane. "I remember the day we came home with you. You were in Mommy's arms and Thread couldn't wait to meet her baby brother. Even after the accident, when we'd visit her in the hospital, she would always ask me how you were doing and when you two were going to get to play with each other again."

Dimey tilted his head, his anger softening into curiosity. "She did that? Even when she was hurt?"

Pin nodded. "Even if you weren't there, you always motivated her to learn how to get better with her wheelchair, so she could keep up with you. You've always been her little hero, Dimey. She admires you so much."

Dimey's frown eased as he stared at the floor, processing Pin's words. "I didn't know that. I thought...I thought she just wanted everything to be about her."