Chapter 6 - THE UNTOLD MONTHLY CRUELTY
My sister heard every word through the open phone line. A heavy, choked gasp escaped her lips before she confessed, “I saw her do it last month. I told myself she was only being strict.” Her voice tightened with sudden horror. “But there’s something worse. Mom made all of us promise not to tell you.” The realization set in that my mother hadn't just acted out in a moment of malice; she had established a systemic pattern of emotional abuse against a toddler, and my entire extended family had actively covered it up to keep the peace.
