Chapter 12 - My bad family email
My mistake beyond the slap came five days later.
Diane sent:
We need to stop letting police and lawyers turn one ugly moment into a family war.
I should have ignored it.
Instead I replied to sixteen relatives.
One ugly moment? Lena has been tormenting Eli for months while Mom laughs and Dad encourages her. You all knew she hated him and nobody cared until a cop walked in.
Send.
Instant regret.
Rebecca called later.
“Did everyone actually know?”
“No.”
“Did Lena actually torment Eli for months?”
“There were incidents.”
“That is not the same phrase.”
“I was angry.”
“Good. Be angry privately.”
The defense used my email.
Anna had retroactively created a months-long abuse narrative.
Family witnesses had been exposed to her interpretation.
I owned it.
During questioning later:
“Yes, I overstated.”
“Why?”
“I was furious.”
“Were you trying to influence relatives?”
“No.”
“Did you understand it could?”
“Not when I sent it.”
Specific.
May you like
Embarrassing.
Better than pretending.
