Lucille watched him go. She huffed out a breath and turned to her mother. "You're coming home with me," her mother said sternly. "No. I love Leim and I'm staying with him. I'm staying with him," "He's a Neesee, they're all bad news," "I love him Mom! He has been nothing but good to me," "I don't care! You're young and delusional, he doesn't love you, he just wants your body. Josh was much better to you," "No, don't you dare bring up Josh. Josh abused me and I was trying to reach out for help but you told me it was my fault. Leim and I love each other and he treats me like a woman, a person. I'm staying. Go away,"

Lucille shut the door in her mothers face before whirling around at Leim. "What the fuck was that?!" she yelled at him. "You didn't need to be snarky with my mother. Yeah, she's not the nicest, but I was hoping for her to at least come to terms with this. Now theres no way she'll ever accept this!" she scolded. "And when I tell you I've got it, you listen. Never, brush me off like that again. Protecting me and silencing me are two very different things." she yelled sternly.

Lucille huffed out a breath and stormed off to their room, curling up in bed, livid.

Lucille began crying. She wanted her mother back, her family back, but she loved Leim so much.

Lucille cried into her pillow, absolutely sobbing her eyes out. Lucille's mother rolled down the window. "What?"