I made a family vacation into material for my work without permission.
You do not owe me forgiveness or contact.
I am sorry.”
I showed Maya.
She read it twice.
Then put it down.
“What do I have to do?”
“Nothing.”
“Do I have to answer?”
“No.”
“Do I have to forgive her?”
“No.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
Six months later, she chose to meet Gwen.
We met in a therapist’s office.
Not because Gwen was dangerous.
Because structure helped.
Gwen looked smaller than I remembered.
Maya wore a sleeveless blue blouse.
I noticed.
I did not comment.
Gwen noticed too.
Her eyes immediately dropped.
Maya sat.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Gwen said:
“I’m sorry.”
Maya answered:
“You already wrote that.”
“I know.”
“I want to ask you something.”
“Anything.”
“When you looked at me on the beach, what did you see?”
Gwen started crying.
Maya waited.
Finally, Gwen
