Chapter 25 - Veronica’s letter to Sofia
Two years after the dressing-room incident, Veronica asked through counsel whether she could send Sofia a letter.
Sofia was five.
Dr. Foster reviewed.
Then Elena.
Then me.
The letter said:
Sofia,
When I lived with you, I sometimes tried to make you behave by embarrassing you.
There.
I made you wear the black-and-white costume.
There.
I made you clean my shoes.
There.
I pushed you when I was angry.
There.
I told you things about your mother that were not true.
There.
Your mother did not stay away because she did not love you.
There.
I kept letters she wrote to you and your father.
There.
You did not cause any of that.
There.
I am sorry.
No request to forgive.
Good.
We asked Sofia:
“Veronica sent a letter. Do you want Mommy or Daddy to read it?”
She thought.
“No.”
Done.
The letter stayed sealed in her therapist’s file.
At six, she asked about it.
We read it.
She listened.
Then:
“Why Vronca lie?”
Elena answered:
“She wanted a life that she thought your daddy and I were stopping her from having.”
Sofia frowned.
“Could ask.”
Three words.
Yes.
“She could have.”
Sofia drew a picture afterward.
Not of Veronica.
A purple cat.
Children do not always respond to adult confession with adult meaning.
May you like
That is healthy.
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