Chapter 17 - THE LETTERS
The sealed envelope contained more than court orders.
Certified exhibits from Elise’s old motions.
Copies of letters.
Not private stolen correspondence.
Filed evidence.
Birthday letters to Ava.
Christmas.
School starts.
One:
Ava, I am nine months sober today. I know that does not fix what I missed. I am not asking you to forgive me. I want to keep becoming someone safe enough to know.
Daniel returned it unopened.
Notation from his attorney’s office:
Client declines delivery based on therapist guidance.
The therapist later wrote:
I did not recommend total withholding of correspondence. I recommended letters be reviewed for appropriateness.
Daniel had converted:
Review
into:
Never show.
Why?
He later admitted in deposition.
“I thought hope was destabilizing.”
For whom?
That question mattered.
Ava’s hope might have led to disappointment.
True.
May you like
It also might have led to connection outside Daniel’s control.
Both.
