Chapter 13 - Celeste’s Real Apology Came A Year Later
The first apology to Sadie was terrible.
I’m sorry our disagreement upset you.
Emily returned it unread.
Months later, another came.
Shorter.
More accurate.
Sadie,
I emptied your backpack in front of everyone because I was angry that you were carrying something that made me look bad. I told you to pick everything up because I wanted to embarrass you. That was cruel.
Then:
I also said things about your mother’s house that a child should never have been made responsible for. Your home was not yours to defend from adults.
And finally:
You did nothing to deserve what I did. You do not owe me forgiveness.
Emily let Sadie read that version with her therapist.
Sadie asked:
“Do I have to write back?”
“No.”
“Do I have to see her?”
“No.”
“Can I keep the letter?”
“Yes.”
She folded it and placed it inside the pink backpack.
The same backpack Celeste had thrown.
Emily later asked why.
Sadie shrugged.
“It belongs to me.”
May you like
That answer contained more healing than any forced reconciliation could have.
---
