Chapter 24 - Ambrose’s Letter
Ambrose wrote after completing the first year of treatment.
Callum was nine.
Dr. Bell reviewed.
The letter began:
Callum,
I locked you inside dog enclosures three times.
Direct.
Not:
I scared you.
Not:
Things happened.
Then:
The first was in my garage.
The second at the lake house.
The third at the barbecue.
There.
“I believed making you remain near things that frightened you would teach you that fear could not control you.”
Then:
“I was wrong.”
Good.
He continued:
“Your father did not tell me to put you in a kennel. He told me to keep you and Baxter apart if you became frightened.”
There.
Most important for Callum.
“I changed his words to fit something I already wanted to do.”
Excellent.
Then:
“I labeled the keys with your name because I planned to use the same kind of lock at three places.”
There.
No mystery.
Then:
“You never had to become calm to deserve an unlocked door.”
That line made Callum cry.
He wiped face angrily.
“I hate this.”
“We can stop.”
“No.”
He finished.
Ambrose did not ask for a visit.
At end:
“If you never want to be around me again, I will be sad, but I understand that sadness is mine to carry.”
Good.
Callum folded the letter.
Asked:
“Can I keep?”
“Yes.”
He stored it inside a Lego box.
Not a shrine.
May you like
Appropriate.
────────────────────
