“I’m doing that, Shannon. Me! I’m the one trying to soften the blows, and they just keep coming!” “Then maybe you and Dad will both get lucky and he’ll finish me off the next time,” she sobbed, dropping her head in her hands. “It’ll save you the worry and him the energy.” “Don’t fucking say that, Shannon,” I strangled out, flinching from both the impact of her words and the thought of it happening. She couldn’t have hurt me more if she stabbed me through the heart.
