Chapter 23 - Seraphina’s letter
Two years after the incident, Seraphina requested permission through counsel to send Anouk an apology.
I said no.
Six months later, she asked again.
Anouk was eight.
Her therapist said:
“Ask Anouk whether she wants the option without telling her she should.”
So I did.
“Seraphina wrote a letter.”
Anouk’s face changed.
“Why?”
“To apologize.”
“Do I have to read?”
“No.”
“Can you read first?”
“Yes.”
I did.
The letter was accurate enough.
Anouk,
I locked you under the stairs.
There.
I did it more than once.
There.
I told myself it was discipline and a way to stop you from coming into adult conversations.
There.
Then:
I was angry because your father always made room for you and I treated that as if you were taking something from me.
There.
Good.
I frightened you about your father’s family history because I wanted you to stop repeating things you heard.
There.
I told you nobody wanted you.
There.
That was cruel and untrue.
There.
Then:
Your father ended our engagement because of choices I made. You did not cause it.
Good.
And:
I threatened your father with information about his family because I wanted leverage in a business dispute. That had nothing to do with your responsibility as a child.
Clear.
I gave Anouk the letter.
She read with help.
Then:
“She says sorry a lot.”
“Yes.”
“Do I see her?”
“No unless someday you want to discuss it and adults believe it’s safe.”
“Do I want?”
“That’s yours.”
She folded it.
Put it in the drawer beside Celeste’s old recordings.
May you like
Months later, the letter remained.
No symbolism needed.
