Desmond listened again weeks later in his therapist’s office.

He told me he wished Rosalind had shouted at him.

That would have made it easier to say he’d misunderstood one terrible argument instead of missing years of quiet requests.

I did not tell him he was forgiven.

Rosalind was not there to do that, and neither was I.

But I saw him change how he behaved.

He asked staff questions and waited for answers.

He read Pearl’s school notes.