Payten finally stopped crying, sniffling and wiping at her face with a trembling hand. I let her go long enough to fetch some tissues, helping her to dab at the tears, to blow her nose. She cried out softly at the pressure, the pain it caused, but laughed weakly when I winced.

"You know how this feels," she said, cheeks a healthier pink, honey gold hair looking far better than it had a right to after what she'd been through. I know I never ...