Chapter 7 - Scott’s Turning Point
I looked at Scott for a long moment. Part of me wanted to close the door and tell him to leave. But looking into his panicked, red eyes, I remembered that he was still a child—a child who had been raised by parents who taught him that money bought immunity and that people were tools to be manipulated.
I unlatched the storm door and stepped aside. "Come in, Scott. Stay in the entryway."
I walked down the hall to Emma’s room. She was sitting on her rug, building an elaborate castle out of wooden blocks.
"Emma," I said softly, crouching beside her. "Scott is at the front door. He wants to talk to you."
Emma’s body instantly went rigid. She dropped a wooden block, her eyes wide with worry. "Is he going to be mean?"
"I won't let anyone be mean to you," I assured her, taking her small hand in mine. "He looks very sorry. But you don't have to talk to him if you don't want to. It's completely your choice."
Emma looked at her wooden castle, then at me. She chewed on her lower lip for a moment before nodding slowly. "Okay. But you stay right next to me."
"Always."
We walked back to the foyer together. Scott was standing on the welcome mat, wiping his wet sneakers against the bristle edges. When he saw Emma, he swallowed hard and took a step back, holding out the crumpled piece of paper.
"Emma," Scott whispered. "I... I wrote you a letter."
Emma didn't reach for it. She stayed behind my leg, watching him silently.
Scott unfolded the paper with trembling fingers and began reading aloud. His voice shook so violently he could barely hold the paper still:
"Dear Emma. I am really, really sorry I ruined your ninth birthday party. It was the worst thing I ever did. My mom told me she would buy me the Xbox Series X if I peed in the pool, and I wanted it so bad that I didn't think about how it would hurt you. I thought it was just a funny trick. But it wasn't funny. It was cruel. You were my cousin, and you always shared your toys with me, and I ruined your crown and your party in front of everyone. Now we don't get to go to camp, my dad lost his car, and everyone at school thinks I'm a monster. I am a monster for what I did to you. I'm sorry. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I wanted to say it."
When he finished reading, tears were streaming down his cheeks. He wiped his nose with the back of his sleeve.
Emma slowly stepped out from behind my leg. She looked at Scott's tear-stained face, her own expression shifting from fear to quiet contemplation.
"Did you really want the Xbox that much?" Emma asked quietly.
Scott nodded, sniffing loudly. "Yeah. But I sold my old Nintendo Switch yesterday on eBay. I gave the money to my dad to help pay for their rent. I don't want an Xbox anymore."
Emma took a deep breath. "You ruined my silver crown, Scott. And Layla’s mom didn't let her stay."
"I know," Scott sobbed. "I'm so sorry, Emma."
Emma looked up at me, then back at Scott. "I'm still mad at you. But thank you for saying sorry."
Scott nodded frantically. "Okay. That's okay. Thank you, Emma."
May you like
He turned, opened the door, and ran down the driveway toward his house, wiping his eyes as he disappeared into the rain.
I looked down at Emma. She looked lighter—as if a heavy shadow that had been hanging over her shoulders since the party had finally dissolved.
