Time to tell

The lady crouched by the child.
'-Tell me what they do to you.'
But the child didn't speak, eyes cast down, hands clasped in front of her, torn between hope and fear .
The lady took her hand. She was kind. Silent tears fell on the lady's cuff. Breaking all rules, the lady held the sobbing child, sobbing herself.
'- If she doesn't say, we can't help her,' she cried to her assistant.
But the child remained silent, drowning in her shame, knowing she was protecting her abusers. Time to tell had passed but who would believe her anyway?