Chapter 17 - Margaret’s Second Letter
Margaret wrote again when Lily was eleven.
By then no active court restriction prevented indirect attorney mediated communication, but we still screened.
Letter:
Lily,
I used to believe adults deserved obedience because they were adults. I was wrong.
I believed your hair belonged to me because I was responsible for getting you ready. I was wrong.
I believed your mother’s anger mattered more than your fear. I was wrong.
I believed apologizing meant you should see me again. I was wrong.
I will not ask.
I hope you are safe.
Margaret.
No “love always.”
No guilt.
Dr. Chen asked Lily if she wanted read.
“Yes.”
She read twice.
Then:
“Can I write?”
“Yes.”
Her response:
Grandma,
I don’t want to see you yet. I like my hair now. Please don’t ask Dad about me.
Lily
Margaret replied through attorney:
I won’t.
May you like
And she didn’t.
That was the first time I believed she might have learned.
