My Mother’s Boyfriend Beat My Nine-Year-Old Brother With a Belt—Then a Stranger Called Our Kitchen Phone and Said, “Stay Away From the Kids”
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Chapter 24 / 27
Chapter 24 - Mom and I fight about forgiveness
Six months after Gary’s sentencing, Mom asked:
“Do you hate me?”
“Yes.”
She flinched.
I continued:
“Sometimes.”
That was true.
“I also love you.”
She cried.
“I should have stopped him.”
“Yes.”
“I was scared.”
“I know.”
“I called Samuel.”
“Yes.”
“But not soon enough.”
“No.”
We sat quietly.
Then she said:
“I don’t want you to forgive me because I’m your mother.”
Good.
Because I wasn’t ready.
Forgiveness became something less dramatic.
Mom respecting boundaries.
Mom attending therapy.
Mom never asking us to minimize what happened.
Mom accepting that Ethan might choose Samuel’s house some weekends.
Mom listening when I said:
I’m angry.
Without telling me:
May you like
You’re hurting me.
That helped.
