Chapter 41

*Slight trigger warning. The main character retells the moment of abuse*

“Gianna, what’s wrong?” Brad reached for me but I backed away.

“No, please.”

Mom came rushing with the apron dangling around her waist and a wooden spoon in her right hand. She stared at the broken glass then at me curled in a ball and my dog barking his head off.

“What’s going on?” She demanded.

“You were supposed to get rid of everything! Why is that picture still here?”

 “What picture? Gianna what—” She bent and picked up the picture.

It was like digging up a buried secret that no one wanted to be uncovered.

“I didn’t know this was still around. Where did you find it?”

 “It was on the nightstand,” Brad replied.

“Honey I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” She wrapped me in her arms.

Brad took Rufus out of the room and came back minutes later. The barking had stopped, but I have still curled in my mother’s arms like a teenager again.

“W