Chapter 8 - What My Parents Finally UnderstoodMy parents eventually moved into a smaller house.
It was their choice.
They didn't want to live under the trust anymore.
My mother visited every Saturday.
She brought books.
Not sweets.
Not gifts.
Books.
She had learned that Grace loved stories.
My father built her a small wooden bookshelf.
He carved her name into it.
GRACE.
The family slowly healed.
But there was one conversation I still needed to have.
With myself.
I had spent years blaming Lauren.
Then my parents.
Then myself.
But eventually I realized blame wasn't enough.
I had to understand why I had ignored the signs.
There had been signs everywhere.
Lauren's comments.
My parents' silence.
Grace's hesitation.
My own excuses.
I had seen them.
I simply hadn't wanted to believe them.
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That was my failure.
I promised myself I would never confuse peace with safety again.
