Chapter 16 - Margaret Comes to See Me
She tried once.
A week after Easter.
Protective conditions prohibited Ethan from contacting me.
Margaret was not yet under the same restriction.
Dad opened his front door.
Margaret stood outside.
Pearls.
Handbag.
Perfect hair.
Dad said:
“No.”
She answered:
“Richard, please.”
“No.”
“I need to speak to Emily.”
Dad looked at me.
He did not decide for me.
That was important.
I stood in the hallway.
“No.”
Margaret’s face tightened.
“Emily, you’re destroying Ethan’s life.”
There it was.
Not:
My son hurt you.
Not:
I failed you.
“You know he loves you.”
I answered:
“He packed a room to make me disappear.”
“That is not what it was.”
“What was it?”
“A place to calm down.”
“With a lock outside?”
Silence.
Then:
“You were not yourself.”
I almost stepped closer.
Dad did not stop me.
I said:
May you like
“I was exactly myself when I called for help.”
Then I closed the door.
