“One day my little daughter told me, ‘Mom, every time Grandpa gives me a bath, he asks me to play a game. I have to close my eyes, and while they’re closed, he does something…’ I froze. The next day, I opened the bathroom door without warning… and what I saw made my legs start shakingr told me, ‘Mom, every time Grandpa gives me a bath, he asks me to play a game. I have to close my eyes, and while they’re closed, he does something…’ I froze. The next day, I opened the bathroom door without warning… and what I saw made my legs start shaking

game?” I asked.

Emily thought for a moment.

“When Grandpa gives me a bath, he tells me to close my eyes.”

The knife in my hand stopped. I turned toward her.

“Why?”

She shrugged.

“So we can play.”

“And what does Grandpa do after you close your eyes?”

Emily smiled.

“I don’t know. I can’t see.”

I don’t know why, but something inside me went cold. I tried to keep my voice calm.

“Did Grandpa tell you not to tell me about it?”

My daughter went quiet for a moment. That silence was the worst part. Then she said,

“He said if I tell you everything, the game won’t be fun anymore.”

I could no longer pretend I wasn’t worried. But I also didn’t want to scare my child. I sat down beside her.

“Emily, if anyone ever asks you to hide something from me, you can always tell me.