Chapter 18
Years softened the sharp edges.
Not erased.
Softened.
Emily became a teenager with strong opinions and a sharper sense of justice than any lawyer I knew.
Noah became a gentle boy who asked before hugging people.
Megan remained loud and loyal.
Carla became my friend.
Dr. Patel invited me every year to speak to new maternity staff.
Linda grew old in prison.
Her appeals stopped.
Her letters stopped.
Her power ended long before her sentence did.
I became a certified patient advocate and opened a small office near the hospital.
On the wall, I hung one framed sentence.
Believe the frightened voice.
Emily saw it and smiled.
“That’s about me.”
“Yes.”
“I want royalties.”
“You can have dinner.”
“Fine.”
One day, a woman came into my office with her sister.
Her husband wanted her declared incompetent after surgery.
Her mother-in-law had taken her phone.
I listened.
Then I made calls.
Fast ones.
Sharp ones.
The woman cried when hospital security removed her mother-in-law from the room.
Later, Emily asked, “Did we win?”
“We helped.”
May you like
“That’s winning.”
She was right.
