of their cruel indifference, Mason’s violent outburst, and every dismissive word my parents uttered. I knew how to use their arrogance, their insidious neglect against them. It wasn’t just about justice for me, but for others they might hurt, for Lily who shouldn’t grow up thinking this was normal.
Once, I believed in their lies—thought that my love, my achievements, could mend what was broken. But you can’t fix a foundation that’s rotten to the core.
I slipped out of the house with Evan and Lily, my mind a whirlwind of plans and possibilities. It was time to be strategic, to dismantle their charade one piece at a time. I spent that night at Evan’s, nurturing the seeds of my plan, determined and resolute.
Online forums, legal advice websites, and support groups became my guides. I crafted carefully worded emails, attaching the audio file and succinctly recounting years of emotional and physical abuse. I reached out to a family lawyer, knowing this fight needed to be as relentless as it was precise.
Evan was my rock through it all, supporting my decision to go public if necessary. Lily, unaware of the intricacies but sensing the undertone of urgency and justice, simply hugged me tight, whispering that I was her hero.
