Chapter 3 - The Little Girl

Summary:
The chapter "The Little Girl" is about a young girl who lives with her father. Her mother passed away when she was very young, and she is the only child. The girl's father is an alcoholic and often gets violent when he is drunk. He frequently leaves the house for days, leaving the girl all alone. During one of these instances, the girl's father leaves again, and she feels a sense of relief.

Reasons for feeling a sense of relief:

1. Escaping from violence: The girl's father is described as an alcoholic who becomes violent when he is drunk. This violence creates a hostile and dangerous environment for the girl. His departure means that she is temporarily safe from his abusive behavior.

2. Freedom and independence: The girl is often left alone when her father goes away. While this can be lonely and frightening, it also gives her a sense of freedom and independence. Without her father's presence, she is not constantly under his control and can make her own decisions.

3. Relief from responsibility: As the only child, the girl may feel a burden of responsibility towards her father. She may have to take care of him when he is drunk or deal with his violent outbursts. When her father departs, she is temporarily free from this responsibility and can focus on herself.

4. Emotional release: Living with an alcoholic and abusive parent can cause immense emotional stress for a child. The girl may feel a sense of relief when her father leaves because it provides a temporary break from the emotional turmoil she experiences when he is around.

5. Hope for a better future: The girl's relief at her father's departure might also stem from a glimmer of hope that things might improve. She may long for a stable and loving family life, and her father's absence may give her a brief respite from the harsh reality she faces.

Overall, the girl's sense of relief at her father's departure is a complex mix of escaping violence, gaining temporary freedom, being relieved of responsibility, finding emotional release, and hoping for a better future. It signifies the difficult and challenging circumstances she faces as a young girl living with an alcoholic and abusive parent.