Eve~
"You were so brave, you know?" Lia said, holding my hand.
I made a non-committal sound. It blew up in my face, did it not? But I didn't regret my actions. I just wished I had been a bit more credible to these people. It wasn't even for my sake—it was for that boy's sake. That woman shouldn't be licensed, let alone allowed near children.
Lia placed a hand on my shoulder. "You were brave, and it seems like you're taking my advice."
"The one about living my life?"
"Yes."
"I wasn't really doing that."
"You see, princess, that's where you're wrong. The simple act of standing up for what you believed in, even when no one else would, is living your life. You're not just existing, you're fighting, surviving—making choices that matter."
I turned to look at her, my throat tight with emotions I couldn't quite put into words. I hadn't felt brave. I hadn't felt strong. I had felt cornered and desperate.
