Chapter 18 - Daniel Begs For Forgiveness In A Prison Visitation Room
Following the hearing, Daniel was remanded to the Franklin County correctional facility pending his upcoming multi-count felony trial. Against Rachel's advice, I decided to visit him one final time in the secure glass-partitioned visitation booths. Daniel walked into the booth wearing his orange inmate jumpsuit, his eyes bloodshot and swollen from days of severe stress. He sat down across the metal table, pressing his trembling hands against the reinforced glass divider.
"Mom... please... you have to drop the charges," Daniel begged, his voice cracking with desperate emotion. "If I'm convicted of second-degree forgery and embezzlement, I'm looking at ten to fifteen years in federal prison."
I looked across the glass partition at my thirty-five-year-old son, feeling a profound, detached sorrow for his choices. "You didn't care about my safety when Vanessa threw a wine glass at my face, Daniel," I reminded him softly.
"I was stupid! Vanessa manipulated me into believing we needed financial security!" Daniel cried, throwing blame around. "You made your own choices every single step of the way, Daniel, from the notary office to the trust fund," I stated firmly.
May you like
"Can't you find it in your heart to forgive me? I'm your only son!" he pleaded, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I forgive you as a mother in my heart, Daniel, but justice must take its course in a court of law," I answered quietly.
I stood up from the metal chair, lifting my handbag over my shoulder as Daniel wept uncontrollably behind the glass.
