Chapter 2
2.
I carried Lily down the empty street.
She rested her chin on my shoulder and whispered, "Mommy, where are we going?"
"Somewhere without bad people."
I stroked her soft hair.
She was quiet for a moment before saying softly:
"Mommy, Daddy said Noah and Owen are little. He said I'm the big sister, so I have to be good and let them win."
Every word felt like a knife twisting in my chest.
She was exactly this sweet, this accommodating in my past life, too.
When Noah and Owen stole her candy, she let them.
When Judith tailored her new clothes down to fit the boys, she didn't cry.
When Daniel came home and only hugged the twins, completely ignoring her, she never threw a tantrum.
She would just look at me with those eyes—eyes that looked exactly like Daniel's—and whisper:
"Mommy, I'm not sad."
But I knew.
She was heartbroken.
Not in this life. Never again.
"When Mara and the boys bullied you, why didn't you tell Mommy?"
Lily lowered her head, her little fingers twisting the hem of her shirt. Her voice was so small I could barely hear it.
"Because you'd be sad. I didn't want Mommy to be sad."
My knees almost gave out.
I crouched down on the sidewalk and pulled her into a crushing hug, the tears finally breaking free.
"I'm sorry, Lily... I am so sorry. Mommy didn't protect you."
Lily panicked, her clumsy little hands patting my back.
"Don't cry, Mommy. Lily doesn't hurt, I promise."
A long time later, I wiped my face and took her to a motel.
Once Lily was settled, I used the front desk phone to call Theresa Bennett, a social worker, explaining why I had fled my home with my daughter. She told me to stay put in a safe location and immediately connected me with a domestic violence advocacy center and legal aid.
The next morning, Lily stayed in the secure children's playroom at the advocacy center, watched by vetted staff. Meanwhile, I filed for temporary custody, child support, and a safety protection order, and reported her injuries to Child Protective Services (CPS).
My lawyer explained that while we could file for an emergency temporary protective order based on domestic violence statutes, the physical abuse Lily suffered would require separate investigations by CPS, the Sheriff's Office, and the family court.
"For an Absolute Divorce in this state, you need one year and a day of continuous separation," the lawyer said. "But protecting your daughter, filing temporary orders, and initiating the separation process doesn't wait."
I nodded.
Leaving the courthouse, Ms. Bennett advised me to take Lily to the Millhaven County Medical Center for a forensic injury evaluation, then helped me set up follow-up legal aid.
"Thank you."
She shook her head.
"Protect yourself and your child first. We'll handle the rest step by step."