Chapter 7 - SOPHIE ASKED ABOUT HER FATHER
Sophie was eight when she asked:
“Was Daddy scared when he died?”
Maria froze.
Her husband Luis Alvarez had died in a workplace accident when Sophie was eleven months old.
She barely remembered him.
“No one knows exactly what he felt.”
“Did you save him?”
The question hurt.
“No.”
“Why?”
“I wasn’t there.”
Sophie became quiet.
Then:
“You saved Mr. Alexei.”
“No.”
Sophie groaned.
“You always say that.”
“Because it matters.”
Maria sat beside her.
“You noticed something when Mr. Alexei got sick.”
“Other people helped.”
“The dispatcher.”
“His security staff.”
“The paramedics.”
“Doctors.”
“One person doesn’t own the whole rescue.”
Sophie considered that.
Then:
“Did Daddy have people?”
Maria’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
“They tried.”
That answer was enough for now.
Later that evening, Alexei called.
Maria told him about the conversation.
He became quiet.
Then:
“Does she need anything?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Another change.
Years earlier, Alexei would have offered money before asking what problem existed.
Now he had learned that “need anything?” was often another form of control when spoken by powerful people.
May you like
So he accepted no.
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