EPILOGUE
While my mother never stopped loving my father, the day he married his second wife was the day she stopped believing in a hopeful future. That was three years after the divorce, and his remarriage made it final. Russell was never going to be hers again, and she was left with two kids, no education, and no job. Even with the government assistance, times were hard and each day was a struggle.
When I was very young, I didn't always like my mother. In fact, there were times I hated her. Not the "I hate you" reaction to not getting my way that is so typical of a child, but a hatred that came out of a deep-seated fear and uncertainty. I didn't understand why anger ruled our house so much of the time. I didn’t understand why she would fly into a rage and beat me and my sister. I didn’t
