Chapter 10: Longer Measure
The months that followed were defined by consistency rather than crisis.
Hena’s startle response to closed doors gradually lessened. Lily stopped guarding the hallway every time someone moved through the house. The therapist’s sessions continued on a steady schedule; I kept every appointment and implemented the recommendations without variation. School resumed under the temporary custody order with clear instructions that only I was authorized for pickup and emergencies.
The legal process advanced through its required evaluations and review dates. Vanessa’s supervised contact, when it occurred, remained limited and observed. Any attempt to expand it was met with the existing record: the injuries, the storage-room lock, the girls’ statements, and the original emergency findings. I did not argue outside the formal channels. The record already contained everything necessary.
