Chapter 18 - THEODORA’S LETTER
Theodora wrote to me through her attorney.
Court allowed one proposed apology only if I chose to receive it.
I waited two weeks.
Then read.
Lissette,
I created danger for Marcellus.
Good start.
I was trying to force you to stop controlling every interaction around him.
Bad context, but honest.
I believed your sister deserved to experience some of what you had.
There.
Then:
I told myself I was balancing the family.
Then:
I understand now that I treated your motherhood as something I could distribute.
That was the first sentence that sounded like insight.
Then:
I released Marcellus believing your father would catch him.
No minimization.
Then:
That belief was reckless and unforgivable.
I stopped.
Unforgivable is not a useful word when written by the person seeking forgiveness.
Then:
I am not asking you to forgive me.
Better.
Then:
I will comply with whatever the court orders.
Good.
No request to see him.
No guilt about age.
No:
I may die before I know my grandson.
I placed the letter in a file.
Not Marcellus’s baby book.
May you like
A legal file.
That was where it belonged for now.
