Chapter 22 - My apology
I owed Emily one too.
Not for the cage.
For before.
“Remember when you told me Derek said you were a baby for calling me?”
“Yes.”
“I should’ve asked more.”
She shrugged.
“I told Mom more.”
“I know.”
“And when you said he made you sit in the laundry room, I let the fact that Mom called it a mudroom make me feel better.”
Emily looked confused.
Adults love nouns.
Kids do not.
I simplified.
“I wanted to believe it wasn’t serious because I didn’t want to fight with Mom.”
She understood that.
“You hate fighting with Mom.”
“Correct.”
“So you didn’t listen?”
“I listened halfway.”
She thought.
“That’s bad.”
“Yes.”
“I still called you.”
“You did.”
“Mrs. Harris called.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“You came.”
My throat tightened.
“I came.”
May you like
She did not need me to be perfect before rescue.
She needed me to become more accurate afterward.
