Chapter 16 - Marcelline Apologizes to the Wrong Person
Her first apology came to me.
Wrong target.
Through counsel:
I am sorry the situation escalated and that Vittorio believed I endangered Elsa.
Believed.
No.
I rejected the letter.
Not literally.
Eleanor said:
“You don’t need to respond.”
Good.
Months later, after therapy and negotiations, Marcelline wrote another.
To Elsa.
Dr. Shaw reviewed it first.
Marcelline wrote:
Elsa,
I put my hands on you at the staircase and pushed you.
There.
That was dangerous.
There.
You were right to be scared.
There.
I had also grabbed and pushed you before when I was angry.
There.
I told myself I was teaching you manners and strength.
There.
I was wrong.
Good.
Then:
Your father and I were fighting about money and family decisions. None of that belonged to you.
There.
Then:
I also said things that may have made you feel responsible for keeping the family together. You were never responsible for that.
There.
No:
But your father hit me.
Good.
No request to meet.
No:
I hope you forgive.
Elsa listened.
Then:
“Keep it.”
“Do you want to answer?”
“No.”
Done.
She did not ask whether Marcelline still loved her.
May you like
That question came later.
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