Then, she asked if anything like this had ever happened before. That question opened a door to a dozen other memories of neglect. I told her about being left at school for hours and having dental pain ignored.
I told her how Rick refused to buy me medicine and how my mother told everyone I was ungrateful. Paige took detailed notes on everything I said. She told me that medical neglect included delays in seeking treatment when a child clearly needs urgent care.
She asked if I felt safe returning to my mother’s house. I told her I didn’t know because saying “no” felt like jumping off a cliff into the unknown. I was terrified of what would happen to me if I didn’t go back.
She gave me her card and told me that I wasn’t alone anymore. After she left, I picked up my phone and saw a series of messages from my family. My mother was asking why I hadn’t answered them, and Rick was warning me not to tell people they did something wrong.