Chapter 17 - My Parents Separated
Dad rented a one-bedroom apartment near New Braunfels.
Mom moved into a senior apartment complex in San Antonio.
They did not divorce immediately.
They separated.
Dad began counseling.
He sent letters.
Not often.
No pressure.
The first:
Paula,
I thought keeping your mother calm was how I kept family together. I see now that every time I refused to oppose her, someone else paid.
I filed it.
Second:
I am not asking to see Mia. I am doing what the court requires. If she ever asks, I will tell her I left and I should not have.
That mattered.
Mom wrote too.
Hers was different.
You have made me a criminal for one mistake.
I did not respond.
Then:
You took our house because you were angry.
No response.
Then:
Marissa agrees you have always been controlling with money.
Marissa later denied saying.
No response.
Probation required counseling.
Slowly, her letters changed.
At eighteen months:
I did not think of Mia as being in danger because I thought of the house as safe. I understand now a house is not supervision.
Better.
At two years:
I told myself she was easy because it let me give more to Marissa’s children without feeling unfair.
I read that twice.
Then:
I did the same thing to you when you were young.
That one hurt more than apology.
She had finally named pattern.
May you like
I still did not resume contact.
Insight does not automatically create access.
