Chapter 9 - The Man Behind the GlassI did not visit Daniel for seven years.
Then Sophie asked to see him.
She was eighteen.
Legally, I could no longer stop her.
Emotionally, I wanted to.
“Why?”
“I want him to see me.”
“He knows what you look like.”
“Not the same.”
We went together.
Daniel had aged twenty years.
Gray hair.
Thin face.
Prison uniform.
He sat behind glass.
When Sophie entered, he stared.
“Emily.”
Sophie stiffened.
“No.”
Daniel blinked.
“Sorry.”
She picked up the phone.
“I'm Sophie.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
He began crying.
Sophie did not comfort him.
“Why did you hate my mother?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I didn't.”
“Then why destroy her?”
He looked away.
“Because she threatened everything.”
“Money?”
“Family.”
Sophie laughed bitterly.
“That's always the word.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“We were raised to believe the company was the family.”
“So you protected a company by destroying actual family.”
“Yes.”
The answer surprised her.
No excuse.
No defense.
Just yes.
Sophie asked:
“Did you know Grandma was going to poison Grandpa?”
Daniel remained silent for several seconds.
Then:
“I knew enough that not asking became a choice.”
That might have been the truest thing he ever said.
Sophie cried.
“So yes.”
“Yes.”
She stood.
Daniel pressed his hand against the glass.
“Sophie.”
She stopped.
“I am sorry about your mother.”
Sophie looked at him.
“I believe you.”
His face changed.
Then she continued:
“But I didn't come to forgive you.”
“I know.”
“I came so you couldn't keep remembering me as a problem in a trust document.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
She placed her hand briefly against the glass.
Not matching his.
Just touching the barrier.
“I'm real.”
Then she left.
Outside, Sophie cried in the parking lot for twenty minutes.
I held her.
When she finally stopped, she said:
“I still hate him.”
“You're allowed.”
“I feel sorry for him too.”
“Also allowed.”
“That's inconvenient.”
“Welcome to adulthood.”
She laughed.
May you like
Barely.
But enough.
