Chapter 25 - SENTENCING
At sentencing, Emily spoke.
Not Noah.
He submitted a statement through his advocate.
Emily said:
“You taught my son that loving me meant staying silent while you hurt him.”
Derek looked down.
She continued:
“You taught me that protecting him meant making myself smaller so you wouldn’t get angry.”
Then:
“We were both wrong.”
Not because Derek was right.
Because silence protected only him.
The judge imposed significant incarceration, followed by supervision and protective conditions.
No instant lifetime erasure from existence.
No theatrical maximum.
Consequences proportionate to proven conduct.
Derek’s parental status was irrelevant because he was not Noah’s biological father and had never completed adoption.
Contact was prohibited.
Future contact would require legal change and safety review.
Emily filed for divorce.
Slow.
May you like
Paper-heavy.
Necessary.
