Chapter 27 - Cassandra’s Letter
A letter arrived from prison.
Cassandra had written to Toby.
Child services sent it to Elijah first.
She apologized.
She described manipulation by Leonard.
She said she thought the drug would make Toby sick but not kill him.
She asked for a photograph.
Elijah did not decide alone.
He consulted Toby’s therapist and Naomi.
Then he explained the letter in simple terms.
“Your mother says she is sorry.”
Toby looked at the envelope.
“Do I have to read it?”
“No.”
“Do I have to write back?”
“No.”
“Can I keep it for later?”
“Yes.”
He placed it in a drawer.
“Can she have my picture?”
Elijah asked what he wanted.
Toby thought.
“Send the one from my birthday. But not the hospital ones.”
Elijah respected the boundary.
Cassandra received one photograph.
No message.
No promise.
Naomi said, “You handled that well.”
Elijah smiled faintly.
“I wanted to decide for him.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No.”
“That matters.”
The old Elijah would have accepted the praise as proof he had changed completely.
The new one understood it described one choice.
Trust returned through small decisions repeated over time.
That evening, Toby drew another family picture.
May you like
This time Naomi stood closer to Elijah.
Neither adult commented.
