Origins
Formed from the Italian riflesso (reflection, ripple, secondary effect), softened into Riflessa to suggest impact carried outward rather than directly struck.
Meaning
Riflessa refers to the people who were never at the center of our addiction but lived within its reach. They absorbed worry, tension, and disruption simply by standing close to someone we destabilized, often without recognition or language for what they carried. They are the quiet witnesses whose lives bent around damage that was not aimed at them, yet shaped them all the same.
Usage
When I finally saw how much my drinking affected my partner’s parents, I understood Riflessa.