PART 4 – The Truth Sophie Never Knew
PART 4 – The Truth Sophie Never Knew
The following Saturday...
Eleanor asked Ryan if she could spend the afternoon alone with Sophie.
Ryan hesitated.
Then looked at his daughter.
"It's your choice."
Sophie thought for a moment.
Then quietly nodded.
They sat together on the porch swing.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Finally...
Eleanor handed Sophie the letter.
"My mommy wrote this?"
Eleanor nodded through tears.
"I should have given it to you years ago."
Sophie slowly read every word.
When she finished...
She looked at her grandmother.
"So..."
"You didn't love me because I reminded you of her?"
Eleanor broke down completely.
"No."
"I loved you so much..."
"...that every time I looked at you, I remembered losing her."
"And instead of holding you closer..."
"I pushed you away."
"I thought protecting my heart would hurt less."
"I never realized..."
"I was breaking yours instead."
Sophie stared at her for a long moment.
Then reached into her pocket.
She pulled out a folded drawing.
It showed three people holding hands.
Her.
Her dad.
Her grandma.
"I made this last year."
"I was going to give it to you."
"But..."
"I thought maybe you didn't want it."
May you like
Eleanor buried her face in her hands.
That simple drawing hurt more than any accusation ever could.
