She was quiet for a moment, then whispered, “I just don’t like it when Daniel gets mad. He’s different when you’re not around.”
The room felt colder, and I struggled to keep my voice steady. “What do you mean, different?”
Lily shifted uncomfortably. “He’s just… different. Sometimes he yells even when I didn’t do anything wrong.”
My chest tightened. I wanted to promise her everything would be okay, but I couldn’t yet. Not until I understood what was happening. I reached out and squeezed her hand. “Thank you for telling me, Lily. I love you so much, and I’m going to make sure you’re safe.”
She nodded, a small flicker of relief in her eyes.
I kissed her forehead and stood up, determined to get to the bottom of this. I needed to call Dr. Harris, but first, I had to make sure it was safe to do so. I didn’t know when Daniel would be back from the hardware store, and I couldn’t risk him overhearing.
Back in the kitchen, I picked up my phone with trembling hands and dialed Dr. Harris’s number. The phone rang twice before he answered.
“Hello, this is Dr. Harris,” his calm voice came through the line.
“Dr. Harris, it’s me,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. “Thank you for the note. I need to talk.”
“Of course,” he replied, his tone serious. “I had concerns after today’s appointment. I wanted to make sure you knew you could reach out.”
“Thank you,” I said again, feeling a surge of gratitude. “I think… I think I need help figuring out what to do next.”
“We can discuss options,” Dr. Harris reassured me. “It’s important to act carefully and thoughtfully.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Yes, I understand.”
As we spoke, I felt the weight of my earlier denial lifting. There was a path forward, and I was determined to take it. For Lily, and for myself.
To find out what happens next in our story, Part 3 is on the way. If you’d like to read more, please leave a comment below this Facebook post.
