Chapter 23 - MY BROTHER’S APOLOGY
Eleven months after Christmas, my brother requested a mediated apology to Romy.
Not direct contact.
Recorded.
Maya reviewed the plan.
Romy could choose whether to watch later.
He sat in a plain office.
No expensive sweater.
No tree.
“I hit you.”
Good start.
“I was angry at your dad and angry about Grandpa’s things.”
Then:
“You did nothing wrong.”
He swallowed.
“The horse was yours. You were allowed to love it. You were allowed to love Grandpa.”
Then:
“I called you cheap because I wanted to make something you loved feel small.”
His voice broke.
“That was cruel.”
No:
If I scared you.
No:
Things got out of hand.
Then:
“I’m sorry.”
He did not mention inheritance.
Good.
Romy watched the recording two months later.
She was six.
Maya beside her.
I sat farther away.
When it ended, Romy asked:
“Can he hit kids now?”
“No.”
“Can I see him?”
“Only if you want and adults agree it is safe.”
She thought.
“No.”
“Okay.”
That was all.
May you like
My brother accepted the answer.
That mattered more than the apology.
