Chapter 18 - Chapter 18 - SHAWNA’S FIRST LETTER
The first letter was terrible.I never showed Keely.I never intended for discipline to be misunderstood as cruelty.No.Into the file.Two years later:I made a mistake because I believed Blaire was taking Keely away from the family.Better.Still not enough.Four years later:I denied Keely meals because I wanted Blaire to experience pressure through her child. I knew it would frighten Keely. I told myself temporary fear was acceptable because the family interest was larger.There.Truth.Keely was twelve.I asked if she wanted to read it.“No.”Fine.At fourteen:“Maybe.”She read.Then said:“She knew.”“Yes.”“That’s worse.”“Yes.”No response.At eighteen, she wrote one sentence:I remember being hungry more clearly than I remember your face.Shawna replied:I understand why.No defense.That mattered.
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