Chapter 25 - CERYS IS NOT CALLED TO FIX IT
Morgause’s attorney considered calling Cerys.
The judge strongly discouraged unless essential.
It wasn’t.
Her counselor’s limited professional summary established:
Cerys did not request Eluned’s chores.
Cerys experienced guilt and confusion.
Cerys wanted contact with Eluned.
No need place a seven-year-old on a witness stand to decide her mother’s sentence.
Good.
Then Dr. Corinne testified about Eluned.
No diagnosis of catastrophic trauma.
No exaggeration.
Eluned had anxiety around food timing and glasses.
Improving.
Nightmares decreased.
She maintained school performance.
She still wanted cousin contact.
She was not ready for direct interaction with Morgause.
Then:
“Would an apology help?”
“Possibly.”
“Would forced contact help?”
“No.”
Simple.
Then Morgause’s attorney asked:
“Could continued total separation eventually make reconciliation harder?”
“Yes.”
Good.
No one pretended no-contact is cost-free.
Then the judge asked Morgause:
“What do you believe Eluned owed you?”
Morgause cried.
“Nothing.”
“Did you believe that at the time?”
“No.”
There.
“What did you think she owed?”
“Gratitude.”
“How should a six-year-old pay gratitude?”
Morgause looked at the floor.
May you like
“She shouldn’t.”
That was the final answer.
