I told her about the way Garrett spoke in a kind voice whenever he thought someone else could hear.

I told her that Loretta and Delia had watched and made the cruelty seem normal.

Then I described the moment the emergency dispatcher said help was coming.

“That was the first time in a long while,” I said, “that someone who heard me was trying to protect me instead of control me.”

My hands shook, but I finished.

Garrett looked down at the table.

I did not know whether he was ashamed or angry, and I no longer needed to know.