[[[all of your flaws]]] [[[part i]]]

38.

'No.' I said softly. 'You have had shit things happen to you, you've been forced to do things I can't even imagine, but none of that is your fault. But you are safe and I want to be here for you.' I didn't care what she'd done in the past. None of that mattered. I could see her for who she really was. 'You are the most amazing woman I've ever met. You are so strong and brave.'

'I'm not.' She denied. 'I'm nothing more than scum.'

'No. You fell in love with the wrong guy and he forced you to do things that, if you really loved someone, you wouldn't do to a person.'

'I could've left him at any point.'

'But you did. You did leave him.'

'Not soon enough. I don't think I'll ever be a normal person again.' My heart was breaking at her words.

'You will. We will get you a job and a home and we'll find your parents. You're going to be fine.' I told her, surely. I'd make it my life's mission to put her life back together. She couldn't respond. I helped her up from the floor and led her over to the sofa.