“My dad knocked me around, and I always made sure to draw his attention, so he didn’t hurt my little brother,” Nic offered after processing what I had told her. “My mom knew it was happening and never intervened. At first, I thought he was hitting her, but it was just me. What still stings is the thought that she let my pain buy her own safety. I think she knew that if she stepped in, he’d hurt her too, but she didn’t think saving me was worth it.”
