“Do not dare apologize.” The command was quiet. Deadly. “You have nothing, nothing, to be sorry for.” Tears filled my eyes again, and this time I didn’t bother trying to stop them. I felt like I had been living in a deep, dark abyss of pain, dread, and loneliness, but now . . . now someone was there, throwing me a rope, offering me a lifeline—if I was brave enough to grab it.
