Chapter 16 - My public apology
My leaked family video remained online.
I could not retrieve every copy.
I wanted to pretend:
Well, it was true.
That is not sufficient.
At a later hearing, Trent’s lawyer argued public dissemination had damaged his ability to obtain work and created harassment.
The judge did not hold me legally responsible for all online consequences.
Still, I knew what I had done.
I issued a written statement through counsel:
I circulated a security clip privately while angry about false claims concerning the incident at my home. I should have preserved the evidence for the legal process rather than distributing it. I regret contributing to public attention beyond what was necessary. The underlying criminal allegations will be resolved through the courts.
No:
but Trent deserved it.
No:
I’m sorry if.
Rachel read it.
Called.
“You apologized to him?”
“I apologized for my act.”
“He punched you.”
“Yes.”
“And destroyed the camera.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t owe him anything.”
“This is not about owing him emotional mercy.”
She went quiet.
Then:
“Is that what you want me to do?”
“What?”
“Stop explaining my choices through him.”
I sat down.
“Yes.”
There.
Rachel had spent months saying:
Trent was stressed.
Trent handled the lender.
Trent told me Mom signed.
Trent said we could stay.
All perhaps true.
None erased:
Rachel emailed.
Rachel entered.
Rachel took my phone.
May you like
Rachel transferred money.
A clean apology needs the speaker’s own verbs.
