Chapter 9 - VANESSA ASKED TO SEE LILY
At twenty-two, Lily received letter.
Vanessa had been released years earlier, completed restitution/therapy.
She asked once.
No pressure.
Lily chose mediated meeting.
I did not attend table.
Nathan did not.
Vanessa entered.
“Hi, Lily.”
“Hi.”
Then Lily:
“Do you remember laundry room?”
Vanessa cried.
“Yes.”
“Were you going to put me in machine?”
“No.”
“Then why drag me?”
“To scare you.”
Honest.
Then:
“Why?”
“So you would react in a way I could call abnormal.”
There.
Lily stared.
“That is worse in a different way.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did you know I could get hurt?”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did you love Dad?”
“Yes.”
“Did you marry him because Victor told you?”
“No.”
Then:
“Did Victor want you close?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know Mom hired you?”
“Yes.”
“Did you feel bad?”
“Every day.”
“Then why keep going?”
“Because stopping meant losing everything I had built.”
There.
Then:
“Do you want me to forgive?”
“No.”
Good.
Then:
“Why meet?”
“Because you asked.”
Lily nodded.
Then:
“I forgive some of it.”
Vanessa cried.
“But I don’t want you in my life.”
“I understand.”
No hug.
Clean.
Then Lily left.
She told me:
“I feel lighter.”
May you like
Not because reconciliation.
Because answer.
