Chapter 11 - I Had to Account for What I Did Too
Bethany hurt Rosie.
My parents helped normalize it.
My father threw a glass while I was carrying my daughter.
Those facts did not make every decision I made correct.
I flipped an entire dining table while Rosie was still in my arm.
She remained physically safe.
But it was reckless.
I punched Bethany after I had already placed Rosie out of immediate reach.
That was retaliation.
Not necessary protection.
When investigators asked, I did not pretend otherwise.
“I lost control.”
The officer asked:
“Did Bethany attack you?”
“No.”
“Was she moving toward Rosie when you struck her?”
“No.”
That mattered.
Later, when Rosie asked why Aunt Bethany fell into the cake cart, I told her:
“Daddy was very angry and hit her. I should have gotten you out first and let other adults handle the rest.”
Rosie stared at me.
“But she hurt me.”
“I know.”
“So she was bad.”
“She did something very wrong.”
“Then why was hitting her wrong?”
There it was.
The question families like mine avoid for generations.
Because if violence becomes good whenever the angry person believes they are right, everyone eventually finds a reason.
I wanted the cycle to stop with Rosie.
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That meant I could not demand accountability from Bethany while turning my own rage into heroism.
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