Lily Visits Victoria
Chapter 19 - Lily Visits Victoria
At twenty-one, Lily decided to meet Victoria.
James drove her to the prison but remained outside the visiting room.
Victoria looked older and smaller without jewelry or the Bennett House behind her.
Lily placed no drawing on the table.
No letter.
Only herself.
Victoria began apologizing.
Lily stopped her.
“I read what you wrote.”
Victoria folded her hands.
“Do you hate me?”
“No.”
Hope entered Victoria’s face too quickly.
Lily continued.
“Not hating you does not make us family again.”
The hope changed into understanding.
Lily asked why Victoria threw away the gift.
Victoria answered honestly.
“Because I saw Anna’s handwriting through the torn paper.”
“You knew Dad would choose the truth.”
“I knew he might.”
“So you wanted me to cry in front of everyone.”
“Yes.”
Lily looked at her for a long time.
“I was eight.”
Victoria began crying.
This time, Lily did not comfort her.
She left after twenty minutes.
In the parking lot, James asked nothing.
Lily chose to tell him anyway.
“She finally answered without explaining herself.”
“That matters.”
“It does not fix anything.”
“No.”
They drove home.
May you like
Accuracy was not reconciliation.
It was still a form of freedom.
