"What? Why?" His tone immediately took on the edge of annoyance as it usually did whenever there was trouble that involved me.

And I already knew he was blaming me. I stifled my cry and tried not to embarrass myself before him.

"And she's crying." Martha sneered derisively.

"Why's she crying then?" He stood close to his mother and stared at me as though he was looking at some object of disgust.

I wanted to ask him to take me to the hospital but after what had transpired this morning and how ...