Harry found two chairs in the waiting area and settled Lydia onto his lap. The room smelled of disinfectant and stale coffee. A television played silently in the corner, showing some late-night comedy where people laughed with exaggerated expressions, and Harry suddenly wanted to rip it off the wall.
Lydia had stopped crying, but she still had not spoken since arriving.
“Tell me what happened tonight,” Harry said softly.
Her voice was barely audible. “Daddy came home mad. He was yelling about money and throwing things. Mommy told him to stop because it was scaring me and the baby.”
Harry kept his face expressionless.
“Then he got even madder,” Lydia continued. “He pushed her real hard. She fell down, and he started kicking her tummy. She was screaming for him to stop, but he wouldn’t.”
Harry’s hands trembled.
This time, he could not stop them.
“What happened after that?”
...continue reading…
