“Wait—”
“I’m serious.”
“You’re exaggerating this.”
“No.”
My voice became firm.
“For six years, I trusted you with my daughter. Tonight I figured out exactly how much that confidence was worth.”
Family
He started talking quickly.
To apologize.
Health problems
To blame alcohol.
To blame the discussion.
To blame Lily for provoking him.
Each sentence made my decision easier.
I finished the call.
Two policemen arrived less than twenty minutes later.
Lily cried when they came in.
I held his hand while telling them what had happened.
He kept saying:
“He didn’t do it on purpose.”
One of the officers listened silently.
Then he said something I’ll never forget.
“Intent does not erase the damage.”
Lily stared at him.
