Chapter 9 - WHEN SOPHIE CHOSE THE MEETING
Two years passed before Sophie asked to see Adam.
I did not encourage it.
Did not discourage it.
Her therapist worked with her.
The first meeting occurred in a supervised therapeutic setting.
Adam entered first.
He looked older.
Sophie sat beside me.
Then whispered:
“Can you stay?”
“Yes.”
Adam did not complain.
Good.
He looked at her.
“Hi, Soph.”
She did not answer immediately.
Then:
“Why did you say I was lying?”
His face collapsed.
No hello.
No easy questions.
Straight to the wound.
“I was ashamed.”
“That doesn't answer.”
She was ten now.
Sharper.
He swallowed.
“Because if you were telling the truth, then I had done something terrible.”
Sophie stared.
“So you wanted me to be the bad one.”
Adam cried.
“Yes.”
I looked away.
That answer was ugly.
And honest.
Sophie asked:
“Do you still get mad like that?”
“I still get angry.”
“That's not what I asked.”
I almost smiled despite myself.
He shook his head.
“I don't hurt people when I’m angry now.”
“Why?”
“Because I learned anger doesn't give me permission.”
She thought.
Then:
“Okay.”
Not forgiveness.
Not reunion.
Information.
She saw him twice more that year.
Then asked for a break.
He respected it.
May you like
That was probably the healthiest fathering choice he had made in years.
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