Six

Her sad eyes flickered to me, and my heart broke all over again.

“He would hit me a lot,” she whispered. “With his belt. Choke me so hard, I thought I would die. He would slap me if I even tried to protest.”

I didn’t move an inch. I was struggling to breathe.

Arabella stared at the water. Her voice was low and sounded like it was coming from far away. “He threatened me. He told me if I ever said anything, he’d kill you, and I’d never see you again.”

I exhaled deeply. It hurt to think of all she had to endure because of me.

“And then...