Before they left, Morane also found some footwear for Kira; slippers, no matter the size, while Kira took deep breaths, wiping her tear-streaked face.

Her emotions were still raw, but she forced herself to focus, trying to compose herself.

"This is not the time to be weak," she chided herself as she and Morane walked quickly toward the mansion. "I need to be strong and stay strong."

As Kira spoke those words to herself, she rubbed her face a bit roughly as her mind kept replaying what had ...