Chapter 23 - Mrs. Dalton WritesTwo years later, Noah received a letter through attorneys.
Mrs. Dalton requested permission to send it.
He could refuse.
He chose to read.
Noah,
You told me you had just left the hospital.
I heard you.
He stopped.
Continued.
I decided your explanation was a challenge to my authority instead of information I needed to respect.
Better than:
I misunderstood.
I struck your hand three times.
Specific.
I treated Liam differently.
Specific.
I told myself that because I knew my son’s reasons, his mistakes deserved context, while your mistakes deserved consequences.
Noah read slowly.
That was favoritism.
Then:
I was afraid that Liam’s behavior and classroom complaints would damage a promotion I believed I had earned.
No excuse.
I used control to protect an image of myself.
Noah folded the letter.
His mother asked:
“Want to answer?”
“No.”
“Want me to keep it?”
“No.”
“What do you want?”
May you like
Noah carried it to the shredder.
Choice.
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