Cynthia Dion:

Mr. Holt dropped me off at home late that night. Thankfully, my father wasn't present, sparing me from another round of his abuse. However, it had been a few days since I turned 18, and I was biding my time, trying to save enough money to buy myself a cake and celebrate my birthday with my persistent sister, who had been pestering me for a cake.

Flora had always regarded me as her role model, and that terrified me because I felt far from worthy of such ...