Chapter 6 - My hand
Sarah photographed her cheek.
Of course she did.
Redness.
No fracture.
No serious injury.
She filed a police report the next morning.
Also reasonable.
I had hit her.
The officer interviewed me.
I did not say:
“She deserved it.”
I said:
“I slapped her after she was no longer touching my child.”
“Were you afraid she would immediately strike Olivia again?”
“I was furious. I was not thinking clearly enough to describe it as immediate self-defense.”
Michael looked at me.
Pained.
Still said nothing.
The officer asked:
“Did Mrs. Carter hit you first?”
“No.”
I received a citation for misdemeanor assault.
No dramatic arrest.
No handcuffs in front of the children.
The prosecutor later allowed a diversionary resolution based on the context, lack of prior record, minor injury, counseling, and no-contact compliance.
I completed it.
I was not proud of the slap.
May you like
I also never pretended it had happened in a vacuum.
Both facts remained.
