[Perhaps someday. She doesn't seem like someone who would laugh at or ridicule him for asking simple questions; even those who don't, their answers are rarely useful. They don't think about explaining what are, to them, universal concepts to someone who doesn't even possess the proper vocabulary for them.

Now he presses his lips for a moment because "coward" is a trigger word for so many people; he doesn't understand that, either, but that's something he's resigned himself to being confused by for a long time.]

Not cowardly. Sensible, especially considering the position you found yourself in with your actual father. It's not noble to continually, willingly subject oneself to a hopeless situation in which one is, effectively, powerless. It's stupidity.

But you have learned that you are not a victim. You have, here, the opportunity to make a different choice, now.