Chapter 12 - I Did Not Call My Kick Self-Defense
Lenora swung a bat toward my daughter.
I blocked it.
I took the bat.
I threw it away.
At that moment, the immediate weapon threat ended.
Then I kicked Lenora into the coffee table.
When police asked about that action, I answered honestly.
“I was furious.”
Not:
I had no choice.
Not:
She was still swinging.
The bat was already on the floor.
My daughter was behind me.
I had protected Vanessa when I intercepted the bat.
The kick came afterward.
It was retaliation.
I accepted responsibility for that separately.
That distinction became important when Vanessa eventually asked:
“Daddy, why did you kick Lenora?”
I told her:
“Because I was angry and scared.”
“Was it good?”
“No.”
“But she was going to hit me.”
“I know.”
Vanessa looked confused.
I said:
“Stopping the bat was protecting you. Kicking her afterward was me losing control.”
She thought about it.
Then asked:
“Did you say sorry?”
Eventually, yes.
Not because Lenora’s attack became less serious.
May you like
Because accountability does not work if everyone only demands it from the person they hate most.
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