Chapter 17 - Ryan apologizes without seeing Lily
Ryan wrote a letter as part of therapy.
Not sent immediately.
It said:
Lily, I hit you with the brick because I was mad about Dad. You did not make Mom die. You did not take Dad from me. You saying it was your house did not make it okay. I am sorry.
No:
Please forgive me.
No:
I didn’t mean it.
No emotional burden.
Claire read it first.
Then Lily’s therapist.
Then Claire asked Lily:
“Do you want to hear something Ryan wrote?”
Lily said:
“No.”
So they waited.
Two weeks later:
“Yes.”
Claire read it.
Lily asked:
“Does he still hate me?”
“We don’t know exactly what he feels. He says what he did was wrong.”
“Can I write?”
“If you want.”
She drew:
A house.
Two doors.
She wrote with help:
You can’t hit me again.
That became her response.
Ryan received it.
May you like
He cried.
Then taped it above his desk.
