Hard Questions

This was asked to Slate’s Dear Prudence:

I was raped by an unknown person and as a result have a lovely daughter who is now 10. My family and close friends know all about her origins. She has always asked about her father, but when she was younger I could deflect the topic. Now I feel that she needs to know something, but I don’t know what to say. I’ve asked my family: My mom is at a loss, and my dad and siblings think I should just tell her that her father died.

It’s a hard question. Whoever asked it, I wish her good luck.