Chapter 13
Maren did not want an apology yet.
Good.
Agatha offered one anyway.
“I’m sorry you misunderstood my intentions.”
Maren actually laughed.
First time in days.
My mother looked offended.
Maren shook her head.
“No.”
Agatha stiffened.
“I apologized.”
“No. You apologized for my understanding.”
Silence.
I almost smiled.
Maren continued.
“You withheld food.”
Agatha opened her mouth.
Maren raised one hand.
“You locked me out of my room.”
Another breath.
“You hid my vitamins.”
Agatha’s face hardened.
“You made my daughter carry dishes while telling her we were dogs.”
The room went completely quiet.
Maren’s voice did not shake now.
“You do not get to turn that into a misunderstanding.”
Agatha looked at me.
Old instinct.
Expecting me to end the confrontation.
I did nothing.
Maren deserved the room.
Finally Agatha whispered:
“I was trying to preserve order.”
Maren nodded.
“There. That’s closer.”
Not forgiveness.
Truth.
Sometimes the first honest sentence from a cruel person is not I’m sorry.
It is I wanted control.
May you like
Agatha was not there yet.
But the euphemisms were weakening.
