Dearest Lily,

My hand feels better and my mind feels sharp today. It’s as good a day as any to continue.

Your mother came in to the horrible image of your grandfather choking your Aunt Kate on the old carpeted floor of our bedroom that rainy, raw November evening. Kate was starting to turn blue when Deidre and I hopped on our father’s back, each dangling off either side of his ribs, trying to make him stop, but he was a large, strong man. Deidre was somehow able to poke him good in his right eye and he finally let Kate go. She instantly rolled away but continued to lie on the floor, wheezing and coughing while her face slowly regained color. I found myself tumbling off of my father’s back. I fell so hard on my rump that it knocked the wind right ou...

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