Chapter 8 - THE SECRETWhy tell Sophie to keep it secret?
This question ended our marriage.
Mark initially said he had not.
Then Sophie’s account remained consistent.
Then messages on his phone showed he knew exactly why secrecy mattered.
A text to his college friend Evan:
Erin would lose it if she knew I was doing exposure work without the therapist crowd.
Evan:
Then maybe don’t?
Mark:
She babies Sophie.
Another:
One tiny dose makes the whole thing manageable.
Evan:
What dose?
Mark:
Diphenhydramine. Relax.
Evan:
For a FIVE YEAR OLD? Dude talk to her doctor.
Mark:
You sound like Erin.
There.
He knew I would object.
So he made Sophie responsible for protecting the routine.
“Mommy worries too much.”
“Mommy won’t understand.”
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“This is our brave secret.”
A child cannot meaningfully consent to secrecy created to bypass her other parent.
