cnu-At my fortieth birthday party, my sister swung a baseball bat into…

But there was nothing reasonable in my chest.

There was Emma’s thin hospital voice asking if she was bad. There was my mother’s hand on Vanessa’s shoulder. There was the sound of aluminum striking bone and tissue, a sound that had moved into my body and refused to leave.

So I researched.

Pennsylvania assault law. Civil damages. Victim impact statements.continue reading …