Shudders of ice tear through me, cooling my body . . . terrifying me.Opening my door slowly, I try and listen to the hushed whispers coming from the family room. I can’t hear anything definitive, only small murmurs. I stick my head out of my door and see Sam’s leaning against the hallway wall, listening intently.“What’s going on?” I mouth to her and lift my shoulders in question.“I don’t know,” she mouths back. Then she puts a finger to her mouth and shushes me.Stealthily, I move to stand beside Sam, hoping to get some insight as to why Dad’s home early, why he threw everyone out and why he wants to talk to me specifically.My stomach drops.Deep down inside, I know why. But I’m hoping it’s not that, it’s humiliating enough that it happened, it’s vulgar for my parents to know. A shudder rips through me at the thought.“Girls, get in here,” Dad calls. My shoulders stiffen and I’m abruptly hit with the inability to respond or move. My legs feel like a ton of concrete has been poured over them, making them immobile.“Let’s face this together.”
