53 I'm Sorry

Freaks? They weren't freaks at all. They were heart-breakingly tragic victims of abuse. Candy had to be a family member that forced her twisted view of love on them from a tender age for it to have sunk in this fully. 

Vera couldn't help the tears that rolled down her cheeks. "You aren't freaks at all. I won't tell anybody. I love Casey and my version of love involves accepting people exactly as they are. I don't care about what he's been through. I just want him to be happy."

Kane stopped momentarily, tilting his head as if confused. "You're crying. Why?"

"Because the person I love most went through something terrible. Wouldn't you cry if you were me?"

"The…person you love most?"

"Yes," Vera said as the tears continued coursing down her face, barely holding back her sobs of both fear and heartbreak. She needed to hold it together and keep him talking while he was confused to hold him off until the cops arrived.