"Thank you," I said and I meant it to the bottom of my heart. There was nothing to say Peter couldn't still hurt me, I was sure he would find a way, but it made the world of difference, having all these people who cared about me. Without them, I was afraid of what I might become, but they loved me properly, like Peter never had.

"Have you seen Eddie?" I asked, finally allowing myself a smile. "He's grown up. He's... he's very handsome."

I couldn't hold his hand or kiss him or even really hug him without it feeling kind of weird, but I could still think he was handsome. I was nearly grown up, too, after all.