“MOM, PLEASE, NEVER TAKE US HOME FROM GRANDPA!” MY 7-YEAR-OLD TWIN DAUGHTERS WERE CRYING FOR A TERRIBLE PAIN IN THE LOWER BACK. Grandpa was just laughing: “I hug you very hard. It’s my way of showing them love.” But when the doctor saw the results of his tests, he turned pale. “WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THEY STAYED AT THEIR GRANDPARENTS’ HOUSE?” What he said next made me understand that my girls had been hiding a TERRIFYING SECRET for some time...

“My dear Emily and Lily:

Grandpa made a mistake. I thought hugging them very hard was my way of showing them how much I wanted them. But now I understand that when you say something hurts, I must stop immediately.

Even if they never want to hug me again, I will still love them exactly the same.

Please forgive me.”

When I finished reading the letter, Emily remained silent for a long time.

Then he said:

“Mom, tell Grandpa that we love him too. But please tell him never to play that game with us again.”

A few days later, my mother called me.

I was crying.

“Sarah, all my life I thought my parents taught me what love was through that tradition. But now I understand that maybe I also needed help when I was a child.”

I replied gently:

“Mom, you can’t change the past. But you can make sure that it never happens again.”