Chapter 18 - A Voice on Paper
Lena's victim advocate, Danielle Reed, explained that a statement was optional.
Lena could write, draw, speak privately, or decline.
Nobody would force her to face Meredith.
"Can I tell them about the rabbit?" Lena asked.
"You can tell them what mattered to you," Danielle said.
"And you can stop whenever you want."
Lena spent three afternoons working on a page of blue notebook paper.
Julian did not read it until she chose to show him.
It began: I used to think being sick made me bad because grown-ups got angry when I needed things.
He had to stop and wipe his eyes.
"Keep going," Lena said.
He read about the mask, the nights she drew dark windows in her sketchbook, and the way Meredith said Julian would leave if she cost too much.
The final paragraph surprised him.
I don't want my dad to hit people. I don't want anyone to take my breathing mask. I want people to tell me the truth, even when it is scary.
"Is it okay?" Lena asked.
"It's more than okay," Julian said.
"It's yours."
Danielle prepared the statement for the court.
Meredith ultimately entered a guilty plea to charges arising from the fraudulent withdrawals and child-endangerment conduct, with the exact sentence reserved for the judge.
Owen admitted his role in the false billing scheme as part of a separate agreement.
Money recovered from accounts connected to the scheme was set aside for restitution, though it would not replace every lost dollar.
Julian expected to feel triumphant when Rachel told him.
Instead he felt tired.
A guilty plea could name harm.
It could not give Lena back the months she had spent afraid to speak.
The night before sentencing, Lena asked to make one addition to her statement.
"I want to say what happened when Dad came in," she said.
May you like
Julian's stomach tightened.
"Then tell it exactly the way you remember."
