The Silence That Confirmed Everything
Lauren called Carol the moment she got home.
“Did you ever have another child?”
The pause on the other end of the line was long.
Too long.
When Carol finally spoke, her voice wasn’t defensive.
It was broken.
“Can you come over?”
They sat at the same kitchen table Lauren had grown up at.
The truth came out slowly.
Carol was 19. Afraid. In a controlling, abusive relationship.
