Chapter 60

• This was approximately the moment when my rational mind would step in, reminding me that the members of my pack did not concern themselves with my appearance during that traumatic incident; their sole intention had been to provide assistance and to help me escape from that harrowing situation. My mind insisted that I had committed no wrongdoing; it was not as if I had made an active choice to endure such a brutal violation, therefore I should not be burdened with feelings of shame and guilt for my suffering. Yet, despite these reminders, the struggle remained a persistent and ever-present challenge. My efforts to maintain a reasonable and objective outlook did not always lead to a successful resolution.
• Although my physical body had miraculously healed within just a few days following the incident, I fully understood that my psychological healing would understandably take a significantly longer period of time. I was acutely aware of this reality and had come to accept it, but the frustrating truth remained: I could not shake the horrendous and incessant sensation that my neck, chest, and stomach were each ensnared in a perpetual noose, tightening its dreadful pressure around me intermittently.
• This torment was particularly intensified whenever my mind would catch me off guard, inundating my conscious thoughts with unwanted and distressing images. Those chilling ice-blue eyes. That horrible sneer. Those repulsive hands. These horrifying memories would play on repeat, over and over again, trapping me in a cycle of despair.