Chapter 21 - Richard’s Release Review
Richard became eligible for a release review after serving a substantial portion of sentence.
By then Ava was twenty two.
Lucy twenty.
I was in my forties.
Victim services contacted each of us separately.
I did not tell daughters what to say.
Ava submitted:
I do not want my father’s sentence decided by whether I forgive him.
Then:
I want decision based on his conduct, rehabilitation, and law.
Lucy wrote:
I do not want contact when he gets out.
That was all.
I wrote:
I do not oppose any lawful release process if supervision and no contact orders remain until we individually consent.
I surprised myself.
I did not need prison to remain my boundary.
The board denied release that cycle based on offense severity and other factors.
Two years later, after additional programming and strong institutional record, he was approved for supervised release after serving approximately thirteen years.
No miracle.
No early escape.
He came out in his late forties.
He moved to transitional housing outside Fort Worth.
He did not contact.
His release conditions barred approaching us.
He worked in a warehouse.
Later maintenance.
No financial control roles initially.
Then one letter through Nora.
Emily,
I am out.
I will not contact Ava or Lucy.
Then:
I will not come near your home or work.
Then:
Thank you for not teaching them to hate being Coles.
I thought about surname.
He knew.
Then:
I am sorry.
I wrote:
Please continue respecting boundaries.
He replied:
I will.
No more.
Then Ava chose eventually to meet him.
At twenty six.
Her decision.
Not mine.
She asked:
“Will you be mad?”
“No.”
“Scared?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Me too.”
The meeting occurred in therapist mediated setting.
I did not attend.
After, Ava said:
“He looked old.”
He was not old.
Trauma memory kept him younger.
“What did you talk?”
“He apologized.”
“Did you forgive?”
“I don’t know.”
Good.
Then:
“Do you want see again?”
“Maybe someday.”
Lucy refused.
Richard respected.
That difference mattered.
He could not demand equal access because one daughter offered.
Then Ava eventually sent him graduation photo.
Lucy did not.
No pressure.
Then Richard’s supervision ended years later.
All restitution obligations completed or legally resolved.
No open case.
He remained separate.
May you like
I no longer checked.
That was freedom.
