Child abuse

Previously

…A moment ago, she’d heard the distinct, jarring slam of a front door, followed by a period of profound quiet. Now, she saw Lily’s bedroom light flicker on, then off again, a fleeting glimpse in the deepening twilight. She picked up her phone, her fingers hovering over the keypad, a knot of anxiety tightening in her chest. She was afraid, yes, but the image of Lily’s small, withdrawn figure kept replaying in her mind, a silent plea she could no longer ignore. The storm was coming, and she knew, with a certainty that settled deep in her bones, that she had to do something.