Ella felt her eyes water & her body tense as Marken came to her. He didn't offer her any sugary words or excuses, but he still told her that he thought she was strong, & he didn't look repulsed by her. It was more than Ella could have asked for.

"I wasn't strong at all, my love," Ella finally admitted, her voice cracking. She was starting to feel more dizzy from the alcohol diluting her blood, probably to dangerous levels, but the woman knew she couldn't leave him without an explanation.

"I was a terrified, pathetic girl," she mumbled, "& my step-sisters enjoyed setting me up to get in trouble... a lot. My teacher wasn't one for letting troublemakers get off easy."