Chapter 9 - THE PARTY VIDEOGrace turned eighteen.
Connor sent her something.
The original birthday video.
He had never shown her the complete version.
Grace watched alone first.
Then asked Laura to watch with her.
There she was.
Five years old.
Colorful dress.
Braids.
Diane's hands.
Sabrina's scissors.
“No! Please stop cutting my hair!”
Adult Grace flinched.
Then Laura appeared.
Fast.
Furious.
The slap.
Sabrina falling.
Laura cutting Sabrina's hair.
Grace paused.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“That part was crazy.”
Laura laughed despite herself.
“Yes.”
“You really lost it.”
“Completely.”
Grace looked at her.
“Do you regret it?”
“Yes.”
Grace seemed surprised.
“I don't regret stopping her.”
Laura pointed toward the screen.
“I regret becoming so angry that I did something unnecessary after you were already safe.”
Grace nodded.
“Good distinction.”
“Therapy.”
They laughed.
Then Connor appeared on screen.
Small.
Tablet against his chest.
“They did even worse things to Grace.”
Adult Grace began crying.
Not because of her hair.
Because she finally understood Connor's face.
He had been terrified.
Yet he stepped forward.
Grace called him immediately.
“You looked twelve.”
“I was ten.”
“You looked like a baby.”
“Thanks.”
“You saved the videos.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
Connor became quiet.
Then:
“You okay?”
Grace looked at Laura.
May you like
“Yes.”
And she meant it.
