The Best of Friends

by Lucinda Berry

The look of horror doesn’t leave his face. We don’t call our children names. Not even when we’re mad at them. But we did everything right—spoke to them in affirming language, followed the best parenting advice, sent them to the greatest schools, surrounded them with positive things—and look where it got us.

You know it’s true no matter what he says. That’s how it goes when somebody lies to you. You never look at them in the same way again.” He’s

I’ll never forget the sound of the smack when his hand connected with her face or the horror in Luna’s eyes when she realized what he’d done.

women leave abusive relationships when they’re ready and not a second before, and that it’s usually once some final line has been crossed.

His ability to twist things is unnerving. He won’t make me question my sanity this time. There are bruises on Luna’s face proving he’s a monster.

I might not love myself enough to demand to be treated better, but I love my kids enough, and they deserve more.

It’s been almost twenty years since cancer stole him from us, but his presence still fills the house like he’s never left, like he might walk back through the door at any moment.