Dear Traitor

Section Eighteen

I can imagine what you are doing if you have read this far. You might be laughing hysterically out of rage if you are reading this alone. You might be "crying" if you are reading it with others around. You might be going through this book and cherry-picking sentences out of context that make me look bad. You have probably claimed everything I have written to be a lie. You might be receiving comfort from the people around you, if there are any.

Okay. Fine. Convince people I am crazy. Tell them this entire book is fiction. They just might believe you. But what do you gain from that? Why must you hide the truth? Why must you seek revenge?

Just why?

As I close this letter, I want you to remember this. I miss you, but I never want to see you again. I wrote a book about you, but I do not seek revenge. If I wanted revenge, I would have gotten it a long time ago. I have a large social media platform. One click and I could ruin your reputation. I know if you were given the chance, you would take it, but I am not that cruel.

I love you, but I cannot refer to you as my dad. You are my dad in the sense that you contributed to my birth. However, a dad is supposed to protect, provide with good intentions, and care for their children overall. Notice the words "with good intentions". You may have fulfilled my physical needs (even though I could argue that is the bare minimum) but you never met my emotional needs.

Until you can (1) take accountability, (2) recognize your wicked ways and apologize, (3) change your ways, and (4) learn that you do not need to control me, then go. Stay with your new family. Love them. Keep them safe. You act different around them. You treat Portia differently than you did Mama. You will never yell at your two step daughters. They love you because you have never treated them badly. To you, they are your real kids. To them, you are the father they have always wanted. To you, me and Hope do not exist.

Now, I must let you go.

Even though you let me go a long time ago.

-Holly

——————————————————————
Dear Traitor,
Congratulations. You hurt me the most.
You're the winner.