Chapter 19 - LIORA ASKS DARLENE WHY
Liora was eleven when she asked to read Darlene’s latest letter.
Maya helped us decide she was ready.
Darlene wrote:
I locked you in the freezer because I was afraid you would tell your mother where I had hidden papers. I told myself you would be there only a few minutes. I ignored what could happen because I cared more about controlling what came next.
Liora read silently.
Then:
“She knew it was cold.”
“Yes.”
“She still did.”
“Yes.”
“Did she hate me?”
“I don’t think so.”
“That’s worse.”
I understood.
Love without safety is confusing.
Liora asked:
“Can I write one question?”
“Yes.”
She wrote:
Why didn’t you just tell Mom the truth?
Darlene replied two weeks later.
Because if I told the truth, I would have had to admit I was not entitled to keep making the decisions.
Liora read.
“That’s stupid.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“I don’t want meet.”
“Okay.”
No pressure.
Two years later, she changed her mind.
Not because Darlene was sick.
May you like
Not because family demanded.
Because she wanted to see whether the person in the letters felt real.
