Chapter 21 - POPPY MEETS CELESTINE
At twenty-eight, Poppy chose to meet Celestine.
I said no immediately.
Then apologized.
Not my decision.
Mediation.
Professional setting.
No phones.
Forty-five minutes maximum.
I waited elsewhere.
Afterward Poppy came out pale.
Not shattered.
Quiet.
“What happened?”
“She looks old.”
Celestine was fifty-eight.
Prison does not freeze people at villain age.
“What did you ask?”
“Why the fire.”
“You knew.”
“I wanted her answer now.”
“And?”
“She said she thought if she destroyed the drive, then Mom’s version would stop existing.”
Poppy stared at the floor.
“That’s not how truth works.”
“No.”
“I asked about the threat.”
Next time, it will be you.
Celestine said she did not mean she would kill Poppy.
She meant:
Next time the doll would not be the only thing thrown away.
Still abusive.
Still terrifying.
“Do you believe her?”
Poppy shrugged.
“Maybe.”
“Does it matter?”
“No.”
Good.
Then:
“I asked why she dated you.”
I groaned.
“Of course.”
“She said she was lonely.”
That answer hurt Poppy more than I expected.
“Did she use you to monitor evidence?”
“Maybe partly.”
Celestine admitted she sometimes searched for Mara’s files while living with us.
Did she love me?
She said yes.
Again.
Messy.
Poppy asked:
“Do I forgive her?”
“Do you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then no label needed.”
She nodded.
No second meeting.
No friendship.
May you like
No cruelty.
A boundary.
