That was enough for me to know what I needed to change.
Brooke called that evening.
I let it ring.
She called again.
Then came a text.
Can we please talk like adults?
I almost laughed.
Instead, I wrote one sentence.
Not tonight.
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
You are punishing Sophie too.
That stopped me.
For years, Brooke and I had survived family disagreements the way a lot of siblings do.
We complained.
We cooled down.
Somebody brought food.
Mom told us life was too short.
Dad made a joke.
Eventually everyone acted normal again without anyone naming what had actually happened.
This time, there was a five-year-old child in the middle.
Normal was no longer good enough.
I replied:
Do not contact Emma. Do not come to my house. I will contact you if that changes.
Her answer arrived almost immediately.
This is insane.
Then:
I DID NOT HURT HER.
