Chapter 17 - THE SMARTWATCH RECORDINGS
Sorrel asked to hear them at eleven.
I said no.
She became furious.
“They’re mine.”
The watch was hers.
The recordings were of her life.
Still, some contained adult abuse language she did not need repeated casually.
We involved Helena.
Created a plan.
Sorrel could hear selected recordings with support.
Not every file.
Not because we were hiding truth.
Because repeated exposure can harm.
First recording she chose:
The dinner.
“Crawl faster. Servants do not keep their masters waiting.”
Sorrel stopped it immediately.
“I remember.”
“Yes.”
She did not need more.
Second:
Aurelia telling her I chose work over her.
Sorrel cried.
“That one messed me up.”
“I know.”
“Did you choose work?”
I answered carefully.
“I chose work I thought I could do without losing closeness with you. I was wrong about how safe the arrangement was.”
“That’s long.”
“Yes.”
“Could’ve just come home.”
“Yes.”
She leaned against me.
Not absolution.
Relationship.
Then she asked:
“Can we delete them?”
“Official evidence copies exist.”
“Our copy?”
“Yes, eventually if you want.”
She thought.
“Not yet.”
Her choice.
At fourteen, she chose to destroy the personal copies after legal retention no longer required them at home.
The forensic archive remained where law required.
Her watch was long obsolete.
She kept it in a drawer for years.
Then recycled it.
No shrine.
May you like
Technology had done its job.
It did not need to become identity.
