Chapter 14 - THE LETTER FROM MARTHA
Martha eventually became eligible to send Leo a therapeutic letter through approved channels.
She wrote it under clinical supervision.
Richard read it first.
Leo’s therapist reviewed it.
Then Leo decided whether he wanted it.
He did.
Martha wrote:
I told you your arm was broken when it wasn’t.
I put the cast on you.
I knew it was hurting you and I did not take it off.
I gave you medicine you did not need.
Those things were wrong.
Then:
You did not make me do them.
Your behavior did not cause them.
Being healthy did not make you less lovable.
Leo stopped reading.
His eyes filled.
Richard asked:
“Want me to finish?”
“No.”
He folded it.
Two weeks later he finished alone.
He did not write back.
Not then.
That was his right.
Forgiveness was not a condition of recovery.
Contact was not proof of maturity.
Distance was not cruelty.
May you like
The adults around him finally understood that his job was not to heal Martha.
His job was to grow.
