One day, I will be free of kleptomania
It seemed there was a force pulling him to pick items, whether he needed them or not. Sean Reynolds was the second son of the Reynolds family.
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The Reynolds comprised Adolf Reynolds, Regina Reynolds, King Reynolds, Sean Reynolds, and their stray sister, Jessica Reynolds who was dropped on their doorstep three weeks after they moved into the Topcoast neighborhood.
The Reynolds soon became famous because of their wealth but they had a huge problem, one so costly they never wanted it to get out.
Sean had sea green eyes and whenever they were fixed on something for more than a second, it was due to get missing.
As he scooped some eggs into his mouth now, his green eyes were fixed lazily on his sister's wrist, his left hand strolling gradually towards her right.
He swiped that bracelet off the jewelry tray at the Topcoast mall, placing it in his underwear and only reaching for it when Jessica's 10th birthday party had begun.
The latch was just beneath her wrist, he reached out and undid it but as he slid the bracelet off, her other hand reached out to grasp his own.
“Mom!” She was yelling, “Sean's taking my bracelet, the one he got me for my birthday!”
“It was a mistake, I didn't realize I was taking….” He said amidst the chaos that had begun at the table, but no one seemed to hear him.
“Sean, to your room, now!”
“Dad…”
“Security!” three bulky men rushed over to seize Sean who was still trying to explain, Jessica reached out to snatch her bracelet back as he was steered away.
When the locks were firmly secured, he covered his face with his palms. The tears came down in torrents onto his hands as if they could wash the abominable thing he did subconsciously away from them.
His mind took him back to fifth grade, he could see clearly the smiling face of Teacher Ann, the chubby boy that always slept beside him, and Mary-Jane, his crush. The other kids seemed blurry in his memory but he didn't mind, he traveled back to the question he asked on that day when he heard the word ‘Kleptomaniac’ for the first time.
“Teacher Ann, what is the importance of a family?”
“For love, support, growth beautiful memories, and friendship”
But he could never relate, not then, not now that he was 30.
“You're a kleptomaniac, you should seek counseling,” Teacher Ann told him kindly after he explained his ordeal to her when she asked why he was curious about the importance of a family.
Even counseling, which they invested so much money in, didn't seem to work. His parents stopped after he took his counselor's cell phone.
He knew he had a problem with stealing, but it didn't warrant him being locked up like an animal in a part of the house no other person wanted to visit. Even Jessica who didn't have Reynolds's blood flowing through her veins was preferred to him, a true son.
His older brother, King, was married with children and did not appreciate Sean coming around because he took his wife's wedding ring the last time.
Sean clutched his chest as he lowered himself onto his bed. No feeling was worse than the feeling of being an outcast amongst the people who should accept you.
There was a knock on his door that made him wipe his swollen eyes.
“Go away” he groaned.
“It's me” he recognized the voice, Sara, the Irish maid who had a smile for him even when he took her grandmother's locket from her neck once.
“The door is locked from outside, Sara. I can't talk to you today. I'm sorry”
“Then we can talk like this,” she had offered herself to be his personal therapist, speaking words of encouragement whenever she was off kitchen duty.
“Sara, you might get caught. I don't have the power to help you if anything happens….” He heard her chuckle.
“I just wanted to tell you that we all make mistakes once in a while. I've been counting and today is the first day in 16 days that you took something. You're making a lot of progress already”
Sean couldn't control the tears now, he rushed to lean against the door, closing his eyes to allow what Sara had said to sink in. He had never stayed that long without taking something before.
“Sara,” he whispered.
“Yes, Sean?”
“I'll make it 30 days for you. Start counting from tomorrow”
He could almost see her expand her beautiful face into a smile. As he placed his palm on his side of the door, he knew she was doing the same and he had hope that one day, even if it was when he turned 60, he would be free of kleptomania.
Things like this happen a lot, sometimes I hear it's spiritual
Lol, do you believe in spiritual things?
Kind of, I believe in God
You don't?
I don't know.... Lol
You describe well the feelings of someone who is in the grips of a compulsion. This is, as you suggest, a disorder, not a matter of willpower. We, the readers are at first angry with Sean because he steals. Then, when you take us into his room where he weeps, we empathize.
The story has great conflict. While Sean's problems are not resolved at the end, he is at least committing to resolving them.
Thank you for sharing this with us, @iskawrites.
Thank you so much for the compliment, inkwell. I appreciate it.
This man has a big problem, even though it is clear that he does not need any of that. The story is so real life.
It is true, he does not need to steal but he can't help it. Thank you for visiting.
This story is beautiful, kleptomania can be so disheartening but still think if it is spiritual.
Thank you for the compliment. Is everything spiritual though?
I've known people in the grips of compulsions. It's hard for others to understand because the behavior is irrational. It's an illness, and there are medications that help with this. As you mention in the story, talk therapy is not enough. It is a lifetime struggle for some people, but often medication can help.
Great story. Sensitive treatment of a difficult issue.
Thank you so much, agmoore. A lot of people won't be able to understand the behaviors of people who suffer from these kinds of illnesses. I do hope people all the world who are affected by one or any of these compulsions will seek help and they will get the help they desire.
It must have been difficult for Sean's family, Having to deal with him stealing stuff all the time. Kleptomania is indeed a real problem.
It is a real problem. Anyone who had to harbor the likes of Sean would be embarrassed by him for real.
Your story reminded me of a friend, he takes whatever he sees as far as no eyes are on him. Funny enough, every time he does it, he gets caught, one time we were talking and he told me that he doesn't want to steal but he just finds himself picking things..
I feel for Sean, his family shouldn't have turned their backs at him like that, they are complicating things for him. In that condition what he needs is love and time to change. But he's lucky to have Sara, if I was him, the first thing I'll do when am ready is marry that lady, she's a wife material 🥰🙃
That means your friend has kleptomania too, but I am pretty sure native society has been telling him he needs deliverance instead of seeking professional help for him.
Lol, all helpful relationships between the opposite sex does not always have to lead to marriage @emreal
LoL!! You have guessed it right, I just didn't want to include it in the comment because I thought it would be weird. Some people even believe that he is cursed, I feel bad how the society makes him feel.
🤣🤣🤣 You cracked me up, but you are right, not every helpful relationship between two opposite sex always leads to marriage but in this case, the young man needs her to be part of his life .. if he lets her slip, I'll personally charge him to court 🤣🤣🤣
I am happy you know, you could talk to him, damn society at this point, he is not cursed like society will always tell him.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Please don't carry my character to court, I am personally begging you 😂😂😂
Yeah, I'll talk to him, though it's been long i set my eyes on him.
LoL, are trying to tell me that your character is not going to buy my beautiful idea? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I am saying in case he does not 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
LoL... 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I had mixed emotions while reading through. The scenerio where he struggled to keep his tears at bay conveyed a feeling of remorse for his deeds.
Atleast, I'm glad he made a resolution to help himself. Great write-up.
I am sure about how he made you feel. Yeah, we are all glad he wants to help himself. Thank you so much
That is a problems that requires support and love while treatment is in place. It seems the family didn't understand the enormity of the problem. It's good that Sara offered a helpful support.
Love and support while getting treatment, you speak like a therapist. This is exactly what he needs but reality does not always work like that. Thank you for reading.
This is just fabulous !LADY
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Awwnn. Thank you so much 🤭