Chapter 5 - The first eight videos
Caroline’s attorney did something I respected.
She stopped using the videos.
When Caroline told Rachel Stein what happened at the park, Rachel instructed her:
Preserve them.
Do not distribute.
Do not delete.
Do not rely on them in court until provenance and circumstances are clarified.
Good.
My lawyer, Rebecca Sloan, contacted Rachel.
They exchanged enough information to confirm the problem.
Eight videos.
Dates across six weeks.
None showed physical violence.
All showed distress.
Video one:
Odelia crying in Morwenna’s car.
Caption from Morwenna:
Another meltdown because Dad is working late.
What had happened?
I had been delayed thirty-five minutes.
Morwenna told Odelia:
“Your father cares more about work tonight.”
Odelia cried.
I learned that later.
Video two:
Odelia crying at Morwenna’s dining table.
Caption:
Won’t eat. Says stomach hurts whenever Leander isn’t home.
Context:
Morwenna had told her she could not call me until she finished food she disliked.
Video three:
Outside school.
Odelia crying.
Caption:
Begging not to come with me because she only wants Daddy. This attachment is unhealthy.
Context:
Odelia had expected our babysitter Nora.
Morwenna arrived unexpectedly because she had switched the pickup with Nora without telling me.
Odelia dislikes surprise changes.
Video four:
Odelia in my kitchen.
Crying hard.
Caption:
Says she wants Mommy and can’t live like this.
That clip made my blood freeze.
Because I remembered the evening.
I came home to find Odelia already asleep.
Morwenna told me:
“She was tired.”
Odelia later told me the truth.
Morwenna had said:
“If you want Mommy so badly, maybe Daddy should let you move away.”
Odelia panicked.
Asked:
“Would Daddy still be my daddy?”
Morwenna recorded the crying.
Then soothed her.
May you like
The person creating the wound also documented the symptom.
That was the mechanism.
