My father whipped my little daughter with his belt during his birthday party, and when my little girl collapsed violently onto the tiled floor, so hard that the music stopped, everything changed.

Not stable.

Critical.

Still, she was alive.

That was enough.

For now.

By sunrise, news had spread through the family.

Calls poured in.

Texts.

Messages.

Excuses.

Explanations.

Suddenly everyone had an opinion.

Nobody had acted when it mattered.

My aunt Teresa called first.

“Lucía, your father never meant—”

I hung up.

My cousin Miguel called.

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