Chapter 22 - REBECCA MEETS LILY
Lily was seven when she chose a meeting with Rebecca.
Neutral office.
I attended.
Therapist present.
Rebecca looked terrified.
Good.
Not because I wanted suffering.
Because fear meant she understood Lily controlled the room now.
Lily sat beside me.
“Did Grandpa make you hit?”
Rebecca answered:
“He pressured me. I still chose to.”
“Why?”
“I owed him money and I was scared he would take away the life he paid for.”
“Life?”
“My house. School money. Lots of things.”
Lily frowned.
“So you hit me for money?”
Rebecca started crying.
“Yes.”
Ugly.
True.
Lily looked at me.
I stayed quiet.
Then:
“Did you think Daddy hit you?”
“No.”
“Did Daddy hit Grandma and Grandpa?”
“Yes.”
“Was that my fault?”
“No.”
Good.
That mattered.
Then Lily asked:
“Do you want hug?”
Rebecca looked startled.
“Only if you do.”
Lily thought.
“No.”
Rebecca nodded.
“Okay.”
The meeting ended twenty-two minutes later.
No hug.
No forgiveness declaration.
May you like
Two months later, Lily allowed Rebecca to send birthday cards directly.
That was progress in the correct size.
