'Still the damsel in distress.'
'Can't believe you are still the same but come on, can I blame you? Nah. Running away is in your blood, isn't it?'
'So how is life going on with your mum and your new dad or wait... did she get you another one?'
'You know what? Forget it. Can I blame you? It is not your fault. It is in your genes, honey. Running away is in your genes. Coward dad's cowardly baby girl. Aw. He was a coward who chose the easy escape… death… didn't he commit suicide? And here you are… running away from reality.'
Sydney's words had hypnotized Irene's mind, leaving the exact impact on her that Sydney had intended to make. Her mind was no longer in her control. Gone was the brave grown-up young woman who had just shut the one up who had dared to make unacceptable comments on her family and who was left behind was - the timid little girl struggling to push away the demons who were clutching her tighter and… just tighter.
