Chapter 12 - Daniel Finally Watches Himself Alone
Daniel requested mediation.
He looked older.
Not ruined.
Not homeless.
Just smaller without an audience.
He said he had watched the security footage dozens of times.
“At first I only watched the stew.”
I almost smiled.
“Of course.”
“Then I watched the part before.”
His voice broke.
“I look like Dad.”
I knew what he meant.
Margaret had eventually told him.
Daniel cried.
I did not move toward him.
“I’m sorry, Emily.”
I waited.
No but.
No explanation.
No you pushed me.
Just sorry.
Then he admitted the company scheme.
He had convinced himself I held him back.
He resented that people respected me professionally.
He told himself he deserved his own company.
He used confidential files because he believed his relationships made
the information partly his.
The same mistake everywhere.
Access became ownership.
Marriage became entitlement.
Frustration became permission.
I asked:
“Do you understand why I’m leaving?”
May you like
“Yes.”
That was the first peaceful conversation we had in years.
