Chapter 13 - MELISSA’S FIRST REAL APOLOGYThe first apology was terrible.
“I’m sorry you misunderstood what I was trying to do.”
Rejected.
The second:
“I’m sorry things got out of control.”
Also rejected.
Months later, during supervised therapy, she finally said:
“I wanted Lucy to choose me.”
Silence.
Then:
“I was afraid shared custody meant I would lose her.”
She looked at our daughter.
“So I tried to make her afraid of her father.”
Lucy listened.
Melissa cried.
“I made you repeat lies.”
No excuses.
“I put you in the dark room.”
“I told you Daddy would hate you.”
“I was wrong.”
Lucy asked:
“Do I have to move?”
“No.”
“Do I have to say Daddy pushes?”
Melissa started crying harder.
“No.”
Lucy nodded.
Then asked to play with blocks.
That was the whole meeting.
No dramatic hug.
No instant forgiveness.
May you like
Good.
Children should not be required to perform reconciliation for adults.
