Chapter 11 - Bianca’s First Apology Made Everything Worse
Bianca wrote Milo a letter.
Adrian read it before deciding whether Milo should see it.
Dear Milo,
I am sorry that our disagreements became so difficult.
Adrian stopped.
There had been no disagreement between equals.
He continued.
I was trying to help you regulate your emotions and become more independent. I understand now that you experienced my methods differently.
Experienced.
As though terror were a misunderstanding.
Then:
I hope one day you understand that being a stepparent is difficult too.
Adrian folded the letter.
Milo never saw it.
His therapist agreed.
An apology to a child should not ask the child to understand the burden of the adult who harmed him.
Bianca later accused Adrian of withholding her attempt at reconciliation.
He replied:
“You wrote a defense brief with ‘sorry’ in the first sentence.”
No second letter came for months.
That told Adrian she was not yet ready to apologize.
She wanted absolution.
May you like
Different thing.
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