Chapter 21 - Karen writes from prison
Karen sent letters through counsel.
The first was three paragraphs about how prison had:
“changed her perspective.”
I returned it.
Second:
I never meant for you to fall.
Returned.
Intent without responsibility again.
Third arrived nine months into custody.
I read it.
Emily,
I shoved you.
There.
I knew the railing was behind you.
I did not think you would go over it, but I used force anyway because I wanted you to stop confronting Olivia in public.
Good.
Then the older betrayal.
I lied to Daniel because I thought your marriage was taking you away from me.
There.
I convinced myself he was controlling you because you began saying no to me more often after you married him.
Painful.
I remembered.
Married Emily had boundaries.
Therefore Daniel must have installed them.
Karen continued:
When you planned Boston, I felt as if you were leaving me after your father had already died.
My father Thomas died when I was twenty-five.
Heart attack.
Karen never recovered cleanly.
But grief does not grant ownership of daughters.
She wrote:
After the miscarriage, I knew you were vulnerable. I used that vulnerability to make Daniel distrust you because I believed if the marriage weakened you would stay near me.
There.
The sentence I needed and hated.
Then:
Olivia helped me, but I asked first.
Good.
I replied only:
I received this.
No forgiveness.
May you like
No prison visit.
Not then.
