Agree with lj.
If you’ve ever known any abused women, think about them. They often appear happy and normal. In many cases, no one suspected for a long, long time. Not all abuse leaves bruises or scars. Also, there are complex reasons a woman does not leave an abuser. Often he does “nice” things - brings flowers, gifts, etc. Or she can be dependent (financially or otherwise) on the abuser.
A child who is a victim is totally dependent on adults, so a child has far less ability to leave or get help. When you think about the adult women who are unable to escape, it’s a lot easier to understand how helpless a child would be.
An abuser doesn’t abuse 24/7. (Maybe some do, but most have other things they do. Just like you don’t indulge in your hobbies 24/7.) So the victim may have periods - sometimes even long periods - of “normalcy”.
The bringing of gifts or the periods of “normalcy” are needed for the victim to recover. It is like a cat playing with a mouse. If he kills the mouse, the game is over and he has to find a new one. (Yes, that happens.) But usually it is easier or more convenient to abuse a victim, then let it recover a bit, or let it go and then recapture it. Abusers usually “toy” with their victims and push them just so far, then pull back before inflicting permanent damage.
Abuse victims are often groomed to become attached to their abuser, for a long time before being molested.