As a veteran I am all too familiar with things coming back to haunt you when you think you're past it. And though the soldier in me is going absolutely ballistic, beating on the inside of my skull and screaming for me to do something; I know full well that all I can do is be there for her and try my best to help her. My concern is her step-sisters upcoming wedding where she will be maid of honor. And he will be a groomsman. He's the type of person who will put forth an effort to make her uncomfortable. It came up because he was released from prison (again) yesterday. After 3 years for vop, assault, domestic. He's a real piece of work. And while I'm perfectly capable of handling myself and have an extremely high level of self control, I'm filled with dread. The English language lacks the words to articulate the anger, grief, sadness, and outright terrifying rage I feel. Shes tough and is perfectly content to pretend it never happened though I've seen her suffer under the weight of it before. I'm scared that shes going to suffer through having to interact with him and that there absolutely nothing I can do to help her. This heartbreaking feeling of utter helplessness does not sit well with me. She's going to suffer and I can't do a damn thing to mitigate it. If death himself were to offer to make it so it never happened and all it would cost would be my life, I wouldn't hesitate and would thank him for his kindness.