The Tell: A Memoir

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains descriptions of rape, sexual assault, physical abuse, and child sexual abuse.

As Amy struggled to focus on the details of daily life while working through her newly discovered memories, John picked up much of the slack with their family, making sure their four children attended their various appointments and practices. Although her therapist repeatedly told her to “focus on [her]self” (148), Amy was sure that she really needed to find the “facts” that would prove her story to herself and others. She thought an arsenal of such facts would make it easier to share her story with the people she still worried might disbelieve her, like her parents. She believed that holding Mr. Mason accountable would allow her to heal and set a positive example for her own daughters.

As the investigation in Amarillo began to gain traction, Amy knew that she couldn’t put off telling her family any longer. She arranged to fly to Fort Worth to speak with her sister, Lizzie. She needed to be sure something similar hadn’t happened to her before she told their parents. Lizzie was shocked and distressed by her sister’s revelation, but the confession made Amy feel “a new kinship with [Lizzie]” (155).