My ongoing exposure to domestic violence

[Glitterati]

56. I still haven't forgiven myself

for putting us in that danger - even as an adult.

I was four. He was my father. I didn't know it was wrong to tell him where we lived.

My mother was just trying to protect us from the violence and wanted him to be a part of our lives. She tried, but eventually we moved to another state, we changed our names and we lived our lives without ever seeing that monster again.

She always told us that what happened was between him and her and if, as adults, we wanted to look him up we could with her blessing. But, as children it was her responsibility to keep us from danger and he proved he was a dangerous man.

I never saw him again; didn't want to. He's dead now.