To my despair, Leo started hitting Gitelle too. Whilst he had tortured me throughout her childhood, his treatment of Gitelle had been vastly different. Through his mood swings and violence, he’d spoiled her, joked with her and developed a cheeky, charming bond with her. Whilst she suffered greatly in watching his treatment of me, I had been so happy that not only was she able to laugh with her father, she had never been physically hurt by him.

Gitelle grew up, though, and as she got married and had her own children, Leo’s treatment of her changed.

Leo started hitting her, too, even if her children were in the room. Even if she was holding them. We have no idea why; perhaps he was just drunk. At least he missed his granddaughter, Alexandra.