Chapter 17 - The Story Scott Told Himself
Scott entered a prison treatment program focused on domestic violence and coercive control.
We learned only through court updates.
He completed some.
Refused others initially.
No contact.
Good.
His attorney later submitted a request to modify the protection order so he could send a letter after eighteen months.
Mom asked me.
“No.”
Request denied/withdrawn.
At twelve, I changed answer.
Not yes to contact.
Yes to reading the letter privately with Dr. Chen.
Scott wrote:
I thought I was helping raise you.
Bad start.
I almost stopped.
Then:
I convinced myself your mother was too soft and that every time you resisted me it proved I needed to become stricter. I used your reactions to justify what I was already doing.
Better.
Then:
I told myself Summit Ridge would save our family when really I wanted a family where I was not competing with a child.
There.
He finally admitted.
I read that sentence three times.
Then:
There is no excuse for hurting your hand or lying afterward.
I closed letter.
Dr. Chen asked:
“What do you feel?”
“Nothing.”
“Really?”
“Maybe angry.”
“Anything else?”
“Relieved.”
“Why?”
“Because he knows it wasn’t me.”
She looked at me.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“But?”
“He knows.”
That mattered more than I expected.
I did not write back.
No obligation.
May you like
Scott’s insight belonged to him.
My peace did not depend on rewarding it.
