"What happened to you?" It wasn't just curiosity; he was genuinely worried. Amelia tried to come up with some excuse, something like: I fell down the stairs. But before she could speak, he added, "Did your father hurt you?"
Every lie forming in her mind dissolved. She averted her gaze so John wouldn't notice the pain she couldn't hide. It was even worse realizing that John knew her father well enough to know he was capable of hurting her. Did everyone already know that, and she was the only one who took so many years to figure it out?
"Is that why he sent you to the city?" John gently persisted. Amelia shook her head.
"No, it wasn't that," but she couldn't think of a good lie to tell anymore. She hated being so emotional; now she needed to use all her concentration to keep the sadnes
