The drawings were enough.
The journal was enough.
The six daughters standing together were enough.
Chloe looked down at the box.
“I didn’t bring this because I wanted to humiliate you.”
Elena wiped her face.
“You planned this.”
“I prepared for it.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“No.”
Chloe shook her head.
“I invited you because I thought maybe we could start with what happened and move forward.”
Her voice trembled.
“But you came here and tried to rewrite what happened.”
“I was hurt too.”
“I believe you.”
Elena looked surprised.
“I do.”
Chloe continued.
“Maybe you regretted leaving.”
“Maybe you were ashamed.”
“Maybe Dad was angry.”
“Maybe Julian heard a version of the story that made it easier for you to live with your decisions.”
Elena covered her mouth.
“But none of that turns absence into someone else’s fault.”
The room was silent.
Chloe’s father stood near the table looking like he wanted the floor to swallow him.
