Chapter 14 - NOAH AND HIS FATHER
Michael’s recovery was slow.
The first time Noah visited him after surgery, he stood outside the hospital room for five minutes.
“I don’t want to see blood.”
“There isn’t any,” Daniel said.
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
Noah entered.
Michael’s head was bandaged.
His left hand splinted.
Noah stopped.
Michael smiled.
“Hey, buddy.”
Noah cried.
“I told.”
Michael looked confused.
“What?”
“I told Claire.”
“I know.”
“Mom said you’d go away.”
Michael’s face changed.
“You did exactly the right thing.”
“Are you mad?”
“No.”
“Did I make it worse?”
“No.”
Michael lifted his good hand.
Noah climbed carefully beside him.
“Listen to me. Nothing that happened to me was because you told the truth.”
Noah cried harder.
That sentence had to be repeated for years.
Trauma does not vanish because an adult says the right thing once.
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But repetition built something.
Security.
