Chapter 23 - Jake sees Brian
Two years after the hospital, Jake asked:
“Is Uncle Brian still my uncle?”
He was ten.
I said:
“Yes.”
“Even if I don’t see him?”
“Yes.”
“Do I have to?”
“No.”
“What about Uncle Scott?”
“Same.”
Jake thought.
Then:
“Scott said sorry.”
Brian had too, through screened letters.
Scott’s apology was specific:
I held your legs because Dad told me to. You asked me to stop and I didn’t. I was wrong.
Brian’s first apology:
I’m sorry everything got so out of control.
Jake hated it.
“So he’s not sorry.”
I said:
“He may be sorry. The sentence isn’t specific.”
Later Brian sent another.
You were trying to leave and I held your arms. I told myself I was stopping you from kicking. But adults had already made you afraid. I should have let you go.
Better.
May you like
Jake did not reply.
No obligation.
