Chapter 9 - My Own Complaint
I expected Imogen’s assault complaint against me to disappear because I had not touched her directly.
Wrong.
Dumping a box of clothes over someone in anger and causing them to trip can still be relevant.
Video?
Sawyer’s room did not have camera.
No.
But I admitted.
Mason saw.
Imogen had bruising on her shin and mild wrist sprain documented at urgent care.
Police report included:
Rosalind intentionally dumped a large clothing box over Imogen, after which Imogen stumbled and fell.
My attorney, Leah Ortiz, said:
“Do not call it self-defense.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Good.”
“Child had been slapped.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“And by the time you dumped the box, Sawyer was in your arms and Imogen was not striking him.”
There.
Same rule.
Consequences separate.
The prosecutor offered a diversionary resolution due:
No prior record.
Minor injury.
Immediate provocation.
No continued violence.
I completed a short anger-management program and community service.
No conviction after successful completion.
Imogen’s own case remained separate.
I hated the symmetry.
Then realized symmetry is not equivalence.
We both acted wrongly.
The acts differed.
The targets differed.
The context differed.
Accountability does not require pretending every wrong is equal.
Sawyer eventually asked:
“Why you got class?”
“Because I dumped the box on Aunt Imogen.”
“She deserved.”
Maybe.
No.
“I was angry.”
“She hit me.”
“Yes.”
“You saved me.”
“I picked you up. That part was right.”
“Box?”
“Not.”
He looked annoyed.
Then:
“Adults have too many rules.”
May you like
Correct.
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