Chapter 22 - Chapter 22 - THE MEETING
Keely was twenty-one when she agreed to meet Shawna.Mediated.One hour maximum.I did not attend.Keely told me later.First question:“Were you trying to kill me?”Shawna cried.“No.”“Did you know I was hungry?”“Yes.”“Did you know it hurt?”“Yes.”“Then why?”“Because I thought two days of discomfort was small compared with losing control of the branch.”Keely stared.“Do you hear yourself?”“Yes.”“Did you love me?”“Yes.”“More than control?”Long silence.Keely nodded.“That’s what I thought.”Then:“Did Mom do anything wrong?”“No.”“Did Dad?”Shawna looked surprised.“Your father?”“He didn’t tell Mom enough.”Shawna answered:“Daniel avoided conflict with me.”Keely looked at her.“So everyone was scared of you.”Shawna cried again.“I built that.”There.The meeting lasted thirty-eight minutes.No hug.Keely allowed letters afterward.No visits.Enough.
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