Chapter 15 - Megan’s treatment
Megan entered residential treatment after her release pending proceedings.
Not as a magical defense.
Not instead of law.
Both tracks continued.
She had relapsed about five months before Lucas’s birthday.
Initially:
One stolen dose.
Then another.
She began taking medication from Henry intermittently.
When access became harder, she purchased pills illegally?
We do not need operational drug procurement. Better: she obtained additional medication through improper sources according to treatment history, but not relevant to Lucas. Keep vague.
She concealed.
Worked.
Functioned unevenly.
Robert noticed.
Henry noticed.
Patricia noticed.
Everyone waited for definitive proof.
Addiction thrives in that gap.
Megan’s treatment records were private.
We did not receive a diary.
Her attorney later offered limited documented participation at sentencing.
Appropriate.
Her apology to me came through counsel.
First letter:
“I never meant for Lucas to get hurt.”
True.
Not enough.
Second:
“I didn’t know he would find it.”
Again.
Then third:
“I brought stolen medication into your house and hid it in a place a child could access because I was afraid Robert would discover I had relapsed.”
There.
“I did not give Lucas the medication. I also understand that my intent does not erase the danger I created.”
Good.
“I left after realizing I was impaired instead of telling you what was in the house.”
Important.
That may have been the worst choice after concealment.
If she had warned us before Lucas collapsed, we could have removed the medication.
She did not.
She protected secrecy.
Again.
“I am sorry.”
I believed she meant it.
May you like
I did not answer.
Not yet.
