My throat tightened, tears welling up again.
The aunt looked at my thin, badly worn-down frame and shook her head. “A child surrounded by love wouldn’t end up this skinny. I believe you’ve suffered something enormous—big enough to make you run with everything you had.”
Those words were like a warm blade, slicing open every layer of disguise wrapped around my heart.
My tears finally broke loose.
“Auntie… thank you… thank you…”
The only four words I could manage—pleading, fragile, yet all I had to give.
Suddenly, the aunt gave me a hard shove.
I stumbled forward, taking several instinctive steps.
Her voice rose behind me, like a gust of wind that could save a life:
“Run! Run as far as you can! Never let the ones who hurt you find you again!”
I glanced back at her, and at that insta
