Chapter 10
Linda apologized again.
Better this time.
No flowers.
No explanation first.
She sat across from Emily and said:
“I saw your bruises before the shower.”
Emily nodded.
“I knew Ryan caused some of them.”
More.
“I told you marriage was difficult because admitting the truth about him made me feel like I had failed to raise him differently from his father.”
There.
Specific.
Then:
“I protected myself from that feeling by asking you to tolerate him.”
Emily’s eyes filled.
Linda continued.
“I also used your pregnancy to make leaving sound selfish.”
Yes.
“And I hit you when the shawl came off because I was terrified your father would see what I had already chosen not to stop.”
No excuses.
Good.
Emily asked:
“Do you want me back with Ryan?”
Linda cried.
“No.”
That was the answer that mattered most.
Not because reconciliation was impossible forever.
Because Linda had finally stopped treating reunion as proof she had fixed anything.
Emily said:
“I’m not ready to forgive you.”
Linda nodded.
“I know.”
Then left.
No hug.
May you like
No plea to see the baby.
Progress.
