Chapter 19 - The Letter from Prison
Two years later, Rachel wrote Sophie a letter.
The prison mailed it to me because of the contact restrictions.
I did not open it.
I gave it to Naomi and Sophie’s advocate.
They reviewed it.
Rachel apologized.
Then blamed stress.
Then Daniel.
Then me.
Then her childhood.
Then she apologized again.
Naomi asked Sophie whether she wanted to know what it said.
Sophie was ten now.
She thought for a long time.
“Does she say it was my fault?”
“No.”
“Does she say it was Dad’s fault?”
“Partly.”
Sophie sighed.
“Then I don’t want it yet.”
The letter went into a sealed file.
Her choice.
That was the important part.
Later that year, Sophie wrote her own letter.
She did not send it.
Mom,
I loved you when I was scared of you.
I missed you when I was safe from you.
Both things are true.
You told me Dad would only believe what you told him.
You were wrong.
He listened.
Then doctors listened.
Then other people listened.
I wish you had listened too.
Sophie folded the page.
“Can I keep this?”
“Of course.”
“Even if I never send it?”
“Especially then.”
She smiled.
May you like
Her story no longer needed an audience to be real.
