Instead, she said, with a strange urgency, ‘Madeleine, you cannot let your home circumstances define your entire life. You are intelligent – you have abilities of which you are not even aware. This is the only chance you will ever have. I can help you. Will you allow me to do so?’ No one had ever offered to help me before. Something flickered inside me, but distrust and suspicion die hard. She said softly, ‘I can help you. Last chance, Madeleine. Yes or no?’ No words came. I was trapped in a prison of my own making. ‘Yes or no?’ I took a huge breath and said ‘yes’.
