Adjusting to New NormalNadia's POVThe next morning, I woke to find Elena asleep on the floor outside our bedroom door.The sight of her on the cold tiles broke my heart. She was curled into a tiny ball with her arms wrapped around her knees and her face pressed against the cold floor. She looked so small., and vulnerable. This was not how a six-year-old should sleep. Not on a cold floor because she was too afraid to be alone in her own room."Oh, baby," I whispered and scooped my daughter up carefully. Elena was six now but she was light. Too light. She had lost weight during her captivity and her bones felt fragile in my arms like bird wings that might snap if I held too tight.Elena woke with a start and her body went rigid in my arms. Her eyes flew open and she looked around wildly. Panicking. "Where am I? Where is the cage?""You are home, sweetie. You are safe, no more cages."But Elena's eyes were wild and kept darting around the room like she was searching for invisible walls
Last Updated : 2025-11-22 Read more