"D-Dylan's dating this r-really nice girl, Lil-Lilith. W-well, her ex-boyfriend had her, and he did some aw-awful things to her. Lef-left her in the hos-hospital. She said she felt 'filthy', but we knew wh-what she meant. Now, Dylan's mad at her, and when I said th-that trauma doesn't work the w-way people want it too, he got m-mad at me. See?" Taylor sobbed, hiccupping in between, showing her grandmother the texts.

"And I understand that, but James, he... he assaulted her, Grandma. Again." Taylor wept. "It's not fair to her that we just got her back today, and now this."

"And if they don't? She flatlined, and he doesn't seem to care." Taylor whimpered. "I wanna go be with my friend, but I don't want to fight and cause a scene with Dylan."

Once at the hospital, Taylor stayed by Lilith's bedside. Lilith laid there, still unconscious, but now, she was a little more responsive.

Taylor glanced uop, eyes red and puffy from crying. "Hey.... I, uh, I wanted to check on Lilith."