My sister said I may have been able to be more tactful, but that its water under the bridge, and nobody's mad I told my niece... She also thinks talking to her will help... Told her I couldn't afford the luxury of scratching off scabs, that acknowledging them would have to do at this point, as atm avoidance is the key to maintaining stability and my job...

What I didn't say, was that I don't want to exchange war stories with her. My dad's memory has already been tarnished, and that I'm scared her story triggers the rest of my memories... I don't want them, I won't be able to unremember. I tried that before, couldn't pull it off, so I made excuses for the abuse in order to be able to live with it, and have a relationship with 'him'.

Also, I can't tell anybody who knows us both. I just can't...

She said that she understands why I won't face it now, but that she loves me unconditionally, and will listen if I'm ever ready.