Dad raises his head slightly, but keeps his jaw clenched, his eyes filled with something. I can't tell if it's fury or helplessness.
"But... he's back," my voice is barely a whisper, but each word weighs like lead. "He returned, and made it clear he didn't plan on staying away. Today... today he threatened me."
Mom, who until that moment was still holding back, jumped from her seat and ran towards me. She takes my face in both hands, scanning me from head to toe, as if looking for signs that he had physically harmed me. Her eyes are filled with panic, pain, and that maternal instinct that doesn't know how to protect her daughter from something so cruel.
"What did he do to you? Susy, what did he do?" she asks desperately, running her hands over my arms and cheeks, as if needing to make s
