Page 23 (1/2)

While part of ht, the other part relished the truth of the battle scars which adorned my body Soldiers and police officers often were injured in the line of duty, and they wore their scars with pride In a small way, h and ultimately survived

It was the sreatest emotional pain It would be the one I couldn’t ith pride It would be a constant re to the hope that I would soray area when it carief washed over ht about how I found e, otherworldly place A place born of living three lifetimes in less than three , the Annabel I was during my enslavement in Mexico, and the Annabel I would be now And as she?

After living such a controlled life both under my parents’ thuht of what to Questions of how to proceed with my life inundated my brain at alht, I didn’t kno to stop it I kneas supposed to take only one day at a time as I recovered, even as little as one step, but I couldn’t help but wonder ould happen now

A gentle knock came at the door "Annabel? Are you okay?" Rev asked

Realizing I er than I’d intended, I quickly turned off the water "Yes, I’m fine," I called

After I toweled off, I realized I was too tired to dry my hair, so I coown and ere apparently the post-op granny panties I was mandated to wear When I came out of the bathrooeway or Rev’s brother had gone

"Hi," I said softly

He glanced up fro okay?"

I nodded "Much better now Little tired"

"I orried about that You need to get some rest"

With a yawn, I replied, "I plan on it" When I eased into the bed, Rev stood up to help pull the sheet and blanket over me "Thanks"

My head had barely touched the pillohen I fell into a deep sleep I awoke to the unappetizing aroht around I had always heard the jokes about A worse, it had to be Mexican hospital food

When I glanced over to where I had last seen Rev, he was still sitting in the chair beside the bed, watching TV "Hey," I said

He turned his head to grin at ht wake up"

His ter I slept," I said as I pushedposition

"You needed it"

An aide appeared with my food and set it doithout a smile "Gracias," I murmured as she turned to leave I opened the lid and then quickly shut it

"You need to eat," Rev urged, when I pushed the tray away