Chapter 10 - THE LETTER FROM PRISONSix years after the attack, Margaret received a letter.
Camille.
She nearly returned it.
Then read.
Camille wrote:
I have rewritten this many times because every version began by explaining myself.
Margaret stopped.
Continued.
I was angry with you.
I believed you looked down on me.
Some of that may have been true.
None of it justified what I did.
Then:
I pushed you.
Margaret's hands began shaking.
I watched you struggle.
For several seconds, I told myself that doing nothing would make my life easier.
Margaret put the letter down.
Hours later Daniel found her.
“You okay?”
“I don't know.”
He saw the envelope.
“Camille?”
“Yes.”
“Want me to read it?”
Margaret considered.
“Yes.”
He read silently.
Then asked:
“Do you believe her?”
Margaret looked toward the window.
“I believe she finally used verbs.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“She did not say ‘the accident occurred.’”
Margaret tapped the letter.
“She said ‘I pushed you.’”
Daniel nodded.
“That matters.”
“A little.”
“Will you answer?”
“No.”
Then:
“Not yet.”
She never did.
Camille had specifically said Margaret did not owe forgiveness.
Margaret decided to believe her.
Acknowledgment did not require reopening a relationship.
It did not require hatred either.
May you like
Some apologies could be true.
And still remain the final communication between two people.
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