"Clarissa, it's me," called Alexios as he knocked at my door.
     "Come in!" I sniffled, wiping my tears.
      He walked into my room and sat on the bed next to me. "What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.
     "Nothing I-" I started but couldn't finish. It was silly.
      He held open his arms to me, something neither of my parents had ever done. "You never have to feel embarrassed talking to me, sweetheart." That broke me. I crawled against his chest and bawled.
     He wrapped his arms around me as I sobbed. "I knew they were doing horrible things to Tabby Cat. I just never knew what. When we were at the hospital, I saw some of her scars, and I bet there's more. They did that to her, and she stayed to keep me safe."
    "Shhh, it's okay. You were a child, you still are, sweetheart. If you were talking to her right now, what would she tell you?" He spoke against my hair, rocking me.
     "She would say that it was her choice to stay and that she did it to protect me. That if she left, they'd split us up," I sobbed. "But if we were apart, we would find eachother again. She would have been safe."
      "Did you know what your sister was doing before we got married?" He asked me.
      "What do you mean?" I asked looking up at him and wiping my tears.

      "Your sister graduated school early and was working to save up money so she could fight for you in court, to take custody of you," he explained. "All she ever wanted was for you to be safe, and now you are."
      "She- she?" I stammered.
      "For the last year and a half she has been working," he explained more slowly. "She wanted to take you somewhere safe. She wanted to build a life with you."
      I held onto him and cried even harder. Tabby had given up so much for me, but she did it. We were safe now, and now we had Alex too. He held me until the tears stopped falling from my eyes.
      "Alex?" I asked.
      "Yes, Clarissa?" he answered.
      "Thank you."
      "For what?"
      "For giving us hope, and a new home where we can be safe," I yawned. "I hate it, but I kind of miss my mom. I know she's a bad person and it's wrong, but I still love her."
      "There is nothing wrong with still having room in your heart for your mom or dad. At the end of the day, they are still your parents. Part of you will always love them, but you don't have to be forced to be part of their lives. If you want to see them, we can find a safe way for you to see them, but loving them isn't wrong. They gave you life and brought you into this world. They may not be the greatest people in the world, but they still love you and are a part of you."
     "Thank you, I feel better now," I said cuddling up to his chest. I was already in my pjs and I was getting sleepy.
     Alex tucked me into bed and told me a story. Before long, I was asleep.