And the pain is more than the physical abuse. They should have moved heaven and hell for you (not judging here, Deb!), but you were a child. So much you had to bear on your young shoulders, the changing relationship with your dad, school insecurity, and that the force of the law was not brought to bear on this lout is incredible.. Some kids have taken their lives for less. My heart aches for you.

You know we can put aside our pain as adults, but it's always there, like an uninvited guest, ready to slip into our minds, to take up residence at opportune times.

I hope sharing it has helped. It's hard to do, but the support from others must be comforting.