Chapter 16
Hazel was three months old when I walked ten steps.
Not gracefully.
Not easily.
But I walked.
Thomas filmed it.
Sarah cried in the corner.
My physical therapist said, “Again?”
I said, “Again.”
Every step hurt.
Every step was mine.
The criminal case moved toward verdict.
Julian’s plea agreement gave him twelve years if he cooperated fully.
He signed it.
Then asked to see Hazel.
I said no.
He wrote letters.
I returned them unopened.
One day, he sent one through Sarah anyway.
I almost threw it away.
Instead, I read it once.
Gen,
I keep thinking about the moment Mom slapped you and Hazel cried. I did nothing. That is who I became. I am sorry.
I folded the letter.
No tears.
No ache.
Just truth.
He had finally seen himself.
Good.
That did not require me to open a door.
Victoria gave birth to a son and named him Samuel, after no one in either family.
Marianne was with her.
Dr. Vale was not.
Eleanor was not.
Julian was not.
Victoria sent me one photo.
A baby wrapped in blue.
Under it she wrote:
He is free.
I stared at the message for a long time.
May you like
Then I replied:
Keep him that way.
