I frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
He reached into his coat and placed a document on the table.
A court filing.
Dated two days earlier.
I read the heading.
AMENDED PETITION.
Daniel had quietly changed his request.
He was no longer seeking full guardianship.
He was asking the court to approve the least restrictive support plan consistent with my February directive.
I looked up.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
His expression softened.
“Because I thought you wouldn’t believe me.”
And for the first time since this began, I realized the final question before us was no longer whether Daniel could be trusted with my life.
It was whether either of us still knew how to trust the other.
PART 4 – ENDING
The courtroom looked different when I returned three days later.
Maybe the room had not changed.
Maybe I had.
The reporters were still there.
The polished wood still reflected the ceiling lights.
