Chapter 20
Weeks passed.
Callum slowly stopped flinching whenever someone raised a hand near him.
Adria noticed.
She never pointed it out.
She simply gave him space.
Bernice visited occasionally.
She never demanded affection.
Sometimes Callum talked to her.
Sometimes he didn't.
Sometimes he showed her a drawing.
Sometimes he stayed in another room.
Bernice accepted both.
The changes were small.
But they mattered.
One afternoon, Callum asked Bernice,
“Do you remember the ring?”
Bernice nodded.
“Yes.”
“Do you still think I took it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I know now that I was wrong.”
Callum smiled.
“Good.”
Bernice smiled too.
Then Callum asked,
“Did you ever find out why he took it?”
Bernice nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Bernice paused.
“He made a terrible choice because he was afraid of the consequences of another problem.”
Callum frowned.
“Was he scared?”
“Yes.”
“Being scared doesn't mean you can steal.”
Bernice smiled faintly.
“No. It doesn't.”
May you like
Callum returned to his drawing.
“Okay.”
