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Chapter 12 - THE PADLOCK COMES OFF

I removed the padlock the next morning after authorities finished documenting it.

Then the entire latch.

Then the door.

My first impulse was to demolish the pantry.

Dr. Hayes advised against turning the room into a cursed object if my daughter eventually wanted normal access to it.

So we changed it gradually.

First:

Door removed.

Lights upgraded.

No dark corners.

Then staff reorganized shelves.

No towering bags.

No narrow path.

A small snack shelf went near the front.

My daughter refused to enter for months.

Fine.

No pressure.

Then one afternoon she stood at the threshold.

“Still pantry?”

“Yes.”

“Lock?”

“No.”

“Ever?”

“No.”

She stepped one foot inside.

May you like

Then out.

Progress.

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