The days blurred together after the boat incident, melting into one another like the humid tropical air that clung to everything. Time lost its edges. There were no longer sharp distinctions between morning and evening only the slow, inevitable rhythm of Daddy’s control settling deeper into my bones. His dominance had grown quieter, but far heavier. He no longer needed to raise his voice or use force. A simple look, a gentle brush of his fingers against the rose-gold collar at my throat, or a soft reminder of “our rules” was enough to still my steps and silence my questions.

I spent most of my time in the nursery now....