“And you won’t have contact with Emma or Ethan unless therapists and the courts agree it’s safe.”
She tore the envelope into pieces.
“Then I’d rather die!”
For the first time…
I didn’t chase after her.
“That’s your decision.”
We walked away.
Years passed.
Ryan was released early after serving most of his sentence.
One afternoon he showed up at company headquarters.
The arrogance was gone.
He looked tired.
Older.
Defeated.
“Give me a job.”
“Anything.”
I shook my head.
“I’ll recommend you for a workforce reentry program.”
“But you’ll never work here.”
“And you’ll never touch these accounts again.”
He laughed bitterly.
“You still think you’re better than me.”
“No.”
“I’ve simply learned that helping someone doesn’t mean handing the knife back to the person who already stabbed you.”
He accepted the program.
Three months later he moved away.
