Chapter 9 - Claire’s Letter
One year later, I received a letter.
From Claire.
It was handwritten.
No lawyer.
No excuses.
She wrote that she had spent months asking herself when she stopped seeing me as her mother.
She admitted she had become obsessed with money.
Status.
The fear of losing everything.
She said none of it excused what she did.
I read the letter twice.
Then placed it in a drawer.
Eli asked if I would forgive her.
I said, “Forgiveness is not the same as restoration.”
He nodded.
“You still love her.”
“Yes.”
“And Victor?”
I looked toward the window.
“Yes.”
“That must be hard.”
“It is.”
“But love does not require me to hand someone the weapon they used against me.”
Eli smiled.
“You’ve been practicing that speech.”
May you like
“I have.”
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