“Stay away from us,” said my daughter and pushed me to the floor։ I didn’t call the police, but I did something after which my phone started blowing up with her calls

My phone, turned on again, was exploding with calls and messages. Mark left a trembling voicemail, Emily wrote in such a way that the messages swung from anger to pleading tone.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I sliced an apple, turned on the radio, and simply stood by the sink, looking at my piece of yard.

The bruise on my cheek no longer bothered me — it was just a sign that I had been through something difficult. I thought about the children, about the word “away,” about how important it is to know how to set boundaries.

The phone vibrated again. I let the calls continue — 31, 32, 33…