"I don't want you to get hurt," her mum had said, holding her hand tightly in hers. "If anything happens to you because of him, I will never forgive myself."

Alex had stared back at her, blinking her eyes rapidly several times, unsure of what to say. What exactly could she possibly say to console her? There wasn't really anything that she could do right now except try to endure the pain. She had accepted that her life would be ruined. Nothing can ever change that.

Her mother sighed, leaning her forehead against Alex's shoulder. She pulled back, brushing some strands of her daughter's wet hair away from her face...