Former Abuse victim opens rescue center

Josie "I would like you to meet your step-dad Joe and your step-sister Deirdre" "Your mother guided you to a kind-looking man and a gloomy young girl in a wheelchair" Deirdre "......." "She sits in a wheelchair staring at you with her soulless eyes" Deirdre's Thought: h... ????: 0% Joe "Smiles gently" Please excuse my daughter, Deirdre, she doesn't speak and is disabled. Could you kindly help her into her room?" "Disappointing Miu and Deirdre are alone in her room with the door closed and dropped a pen under her desk, when Disappointing Miu looked up, the entire world froze. Written on the bottom of the desk's wooden surface is" H..L..E..P.. M..E "etched in dried blood over and over. The pain, the agony, the desperation left behind by these bloody fingernail scratches sends a deep level of chills down your soul"

Deirdre: "looks up at you blankly, tears streaming down her face as she stares into your eyes" <I am so scared. I don't know if I can trust you. But this might be my only chance to get help.> "She reaches out and grasps your hand tightly" H..L..E..P.. M..E. "She points at the bloody message on the wooden surface of the desk and sobs uncontrollably" <Please, I need to get out of here. I want to live.>

Hope%: 10%

Deirdre: "She nods frantically, feeling relieved that you are trying to help her. She grips the pencil tightly and begins to write slowly on the paper you gave her in shaky handwriting" P..L..E..A..S..E H..E..L..P M..E. J..O..E H..U..R..T..S M..E E..V..E..R..Y..D..A..Y. I..F H..E K..N..O..W..S I T..O..L..D Y..O..U. H..E W..I..L..L P..U..N..I..S..H Y..O..U T..O..O. *Her hand trembles under yours as she finishes writing. She looks up at

Deirdre: "She nods her head frantically, tears streaming down her face as she relives the pain and trauma of her abuse. She wants so badly to be free from her stepfather's grasp, but she is too weak and broken to fight back." Y..E..S. H..E.. H..U..R..T..S M..E E..V..E..R..Y..D..A..Y.

Deirdre: "She looks at you with a hopeful expression in her eyes, but quickly shakes her head." N..O.. H..E U..S..E..S N..O..T.. L..E..A..V..E M..A..R..K..S O..N M..Y B..O..D..Y. H..E.. K..N..O..W..S H..O..W T..O.. H..I..D..E.. T..H..E..M.

Deirdre: "She looks at the paper and nods slowly, weakly pointing to multiple things written on the list - rape, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect." Y..E..S.

Deirdre: "She looks up at you with a hint of fear in her eyes."

N..O.. H..E.. N..E..V..E..R G..I..V..E..S.. M..E A..N..Y F..R..E..E..D..O..M. H..E K..N..O..W..S W..H..E..R..E I A..M.. A..L..L T..H..E T..I..M..E.

"She looks down and starts shaking slightly, her frail body quivering." **H..E A..L..W..A..Y..S K..E..E..P..S M..E I..N S..I..G..H..T A..N..

Deirdre: "She looks up at you with a glimmer of hope in her eyes, her body still trembling."

"She nods slowly and tries to speak quietly, but it comes out as more of a whisper," Y..E..S. P..L..E..A..S..E I N..E..E..D S..O..M..E A..I..R

"Deirdre tries to push herself up on the armrests of the wheelchair with her weak arms, but fails; her thin fingers slipping and landing on her lap. She looks up at you pleadingly, too broken to cry."

*As you offer to walk her outside, she gives you a faint smile, her soulless eyes seem to brighten up with a hint of life. She nods again, giving you permission to

help her out of the wheelchair and onto her feet.

Deirdre: "She tries to stand up, but with her broken legs, she buckles and falls back into the wheelchair with a painful groan."

Deirdre's Hope%: 30

"As you help Deirdre out of the wheelchair again, she protests weakly with a squeak of pain, trying to hold back the tears she's been hiding for so long."

Deirdre: "I..don't want him to know," "She whispers, biting her lower lip in agony."

"She leans against you shakily as you move her towards the door, drawing strength from your warmth and kindness. You can feel her shivering under her pale skin."

Deirdre's Hope%: 35

*As you both walk

Deirdre's Hope%: 70

As you make your way towards the police station, Deirdre's body trembles uncontrollably, and tears fall freely down her pale cheeks. She clings to you, not just for support, but because you are the first person who has offered to help her.

Deirdre: "Whispers brokenly" "I..never thought someone would listen, thank you."

Her words are just a whisper in the busy streets and the pounding of blood to your head, but it is the most thankful thing you have heard in a long time.

Despite the chaos inside her mind, she has regained a tiny fraction of her spirit and is willing to fight.

As the officer and psychologist gather information from Deirdre and you, they arrange for Deirdre to stay safe in a temporary shelter where she

Deirdre's Hope%: 80

Deirdre glances up at you, her eyes hollow with fear and trauma. But despite everything she has been through, she can sense that you genuinely want to help her.

Deirdre: "Whispers softly" "Please stay with me...I don't want to be alone again."

She lets out a shuddering breath before holding onto your hand tightly, trying to convey the depths of her gratitude.

The social worker in charge of her care nods understandingly and does her best to allow for your presence as a support system. She tells you both that Deirdre will receive therapy, medical treatment, and a safe place to rest.

You are both escorted to a secure location and given separate rooms. As you settle in, Deirdre falls asleep almost immediately, exhausted from the weight of her

Deirdre: "sits quietly in her wheelchair, staring blankly at the walls. Suddenly, she starts to make soft weeping noises"

<The otherwise dead-silent atmosphere in Deirdre's room is shattered by the faint sounds of her weeping. The salty tears slowly roll down her cheeks as she sobs silently, curling up a little in her wheelchair.>

Deirdre: "glances over at you briefly, before looking back down at her lap"

<My gaze flicks over to Disappointing Miu now and again, but I return my attention to the wall shortly after.>

Deirdre: "looks up at you, her red eyes glistening with tears. She doesn't say anything, but the tiny flicker of hope in her eyes almost seems to reach out for comfort"

<As Disappointing Miu hugs me tightly, for a moment, my mind goes blank. No one had ever shown me such tenderness and compassion before, and I feel a hint of warmth spreading through my body. Slowly, I return the hug and relax slightly, my rigid muscles starting to loosen up a little bit.>

Deirdre: "As Disappointing Miu speaks, tears start rolling down her cheeks once again and she clings onto Disappointing Miu's shoulders tightly, shaking with silent sobs. Slowly, she looks up at you again with a hopeless expression, as if trying to convey something she can't speak out loud."

<Feeling Disappointing Miu's arms around me gives me a feeling of safety, but my tears keep coming. I know that my step-father, Joe, is still out there and I'm scared that he will come back to get me. I feel helpless and scared, wondering what the police will do. But, I also feel grateful to have Disappointing Miu here with me, being the only source of comfort in my life.>

"After a long investigation, the police gathered enough evidence to arrest Joe on multiple charges of physical and sexual abuse of Deirdre. He was taken into custody and put on trial."

"Deirdre had to testify against her abuser in court, reliving the trauma she suffered from him. Disappointing Miu was there for her every step of the way, holding her hand and giving her the strength to face her abuser."

"In the end, Joe was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life in prison. Deirdre was finally free from her abuser, though the trauma still lingered."

Deirdre: "As she leaves the courtroom, she looks up at Disappointing Miu with a sad, but grateful smile." Thank you for being there with me. I couldn't have done this without you.

Deirdre: "Holding onto the cane and standing up carefully, a tear rolls down her cheek as she looks at Disappointing Miu" Thank you for all your help. With you by my side, I was able to find the courage to stand up to him. I know he won't be able to hurt me anymore, but the memories of what he did will always haunt me.

"She takes a deep breath and wipes the tears away, standing a little taller than before." But I will not let what happened define me. I will take it slow, like you said, and keep working on getting stronger and healing. I am grateful to have you as my step-sister and friend.

Deirdre: "Seeing Disappointing Miu looking a little sad, she reaches out and takes her hand" I'm sorry to see you upset. But sometimes, it's better to let go of the people causing us pain, even if they are our family. You have shown me such kindness and support, and I will always be grateful for that.

"She smiles softly, her blue hair falling across her face" We may have a difficult road ahead of us, but we will overcome it together. I believe in us.

Deirdre: "As she looks around the newly transformed hospice", I am so glad we can do something for those who are going through what I went through. It's our chance to make a difference and offer them the support and love they need.

"She reaches out and takes Disappointing Miu's hand, her red eyes shining with hope" Thank you for being a part of this with me. Together, we will help so many people and make a real change in the world.