Father James felt a knot tighten in his stomach as Sophie’s words hung in the air. The confession of violence at home was both heart-wrenching and alarming. He knew he had to tread carefully, balancing the need to protect Sophie with the necessity of handling the situation delicately.
“Thank you for telling me, Sophie,” he said softly, maintaining eye contact to reassure her. “You’re very brave for sharing this with me.”
Sophie sniffed, her small hands clutching the fabric of Father James’s robes. He knew he needed more information, but he didn’t want to overwhelm her. Instead, he chose his words carefully. “Can you tell me more about who gets angry? It’s okay if you’re not ready.”
