Chapter 5
Sophie hated the plan too.
That mattered.
Victoria had told herself she was protecting her daughter.
Sophie confessed the next morning.
“I don’t want Noah’s room.”
“Then you won’t have it.”
“I told Mom.”
“What did she say?”
“She said I’d understand later.”
There.
Adults love postponing consent until children supposedly become wise enough to agree.
Sophie continued.
She had secretly moved some of Noah’s toys back.
The stuffed lion.
Two picture books.
A wooden train.
Victoria moved them out again.
Sophie stopped trying.
Then she whispered:
“She said if I didn’t act like your daughter, you might not marry her.”
My jaw tightened.
A nine-year-old carrying responsibility for her mother’s marriage.
Same pattern.
Different child.
Victoria was turning both children into instruments.
Noah had to become smaller.
May you like
Sophie had to become more convincing.
Neither got to simply exist.
