To Aggie it might have only been a small gesture, but for me, it did wonders toward bolstering my confidence. I had never really been just like Peter, even if he wanted to believe otherwise, and I had escaped him once before. I could do it again.

I could be a better person than the one he wanted me to be.

"Thank you," I said, squeezing Aggie's hand gently in return. "I just hate that I dragged you all here somehow. None of you should have to live through Peter's foolishness."