<Elsie>
I didn't hear any reply or response. When I turned around, Jace fell silent with his head down. As if what I said just slapped him hard. It only took me a short time to figure out why he was like that. Of course because of Kathleen Sanders.
"Hmm," he mumbled. Then turned to me. "How bad is the pain?"
"Very bad." My tone lowered a little. I blinked a few times. "Worse than being thrown into an abyss, when your feet are scratched by branches and pebbles that roll you down." I've never really felt it, but I'm sure the pain I was in was more terrible than it was. I looked down at my hands in my lap. "I used to know a friend. She was the only one I knew apart from Cleopatra in high school. We are close friends to the point that I go along with whatever he wants. He comforted me and told me that I could be independent, not needing anyone in this world.