Chapter 11 - VANESSA’S FIRST LETTERVanessa wrote Lily and Noah a letter.
Their therapist reviewed it.
Rejected it.
The first sentence:
I’m sorry my discipline scared you.
No.
The children were not frightened because they misunderstood discipline.
The behavior was wrong.
Second attempt:
I was under enormous pressure and made choices I regret.
Still centered Vanessa.
Rejected.
Third attempt took four months.
I locked you in the old dog cage because I wanted you to stop talking about something you had seen.
Accurate.
I knew you were afraid, and I used that fear because I thought it would make you easier to control.
Hard.
Necessary.
You were not animals. You did not deserve any of it.
Then:
Nothing you saw caused my choices. Nothing you told your father caused what happened afterward.
Lily read it.
Noah did not want to.
Fine.
Lily asked:
“Can I write back?”
“Yes.”
Her response was six words.
I don’t want to see you yet.
Vanessa respected it.
May you like
For the first time.
That mattered.
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