Chapter 15 - The Chain Became Ordinary Metal
When Emma was eight, Detective Bennett called.
The old evidence was being released.
Among the items was the decorative chain.
Nathan wanted it destroyed.
Emma asked to see it first.
With her therapist’s support, they went together.
The chain looked smaller than Nathan remembered.
Cheap theatrical metal.
A simple cuff.
Emma stared.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“I thought it was huge.”
“You were five.”
She did not touch it.
“Can they throw it away?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
They left without it.
In the parking lot, Emma skipped toward the car.
Nathan realized the chain had finally become what it physically was.
Metal.
Its power had come from the adult who used it.
Now it belonged to nobody.
That evening Emma received a birthday letter from Claire.
Claire wrote that Emma owed her nothing.
She did not ask for a visit.
Emma read it twice.
“I think she’s sorry.”
“She might be.”
“I’m still mad sometimes.”
“You can be.”
“Do I have to know exactly how I feel?”
“No.”
Emma smiled.
“Good.”
She placed the letter in a drawer filled with stickers, bracelets, and
birthday cards.
Not a safe.
Not a secret compartment.
May you like
An ordinary drawer.
Exactly where it belonged.
