Dad then said, "That man is why you hate letting men have any physical contact with you, isn't he?"
I shakily nodded and mumbled, "I remember my past now."
Mom walked over to me and said, "Do you want to tell us?"
I nodded and said, "Nessa had just been born. Father came and started screaming at me how it was my fault Mother was dead and Nessa had been born early and her legs were tangled and she'd probably never walk. I backed away and began to run. As I was running, Father caught me. By then we were halfway to the orphanage in Russia. He slapped me and I spun dizzily, hitting the ground. I hit my head and blacked out. I think he continued to hit me, because when I reached the orphanage, supposedly I was completely covered with bruises and cuts. I couldn't remember anything until now. I was treated there, but I hated it. I had to have been two when I arrived at the orphanage, because that's when I disappeared from Oz. Then the two of you adopted me and Rasputin cursed me—saying I'd die before I turned twenty-eight by his hand at the old Romanov Palace. Then I went on my journey to the past, but I didn't get the happily ever after you got, Mom—or at least not the happily ever after with my past—I got my happily ever after in Paris."
Mom and Dad nodded, each of them carefully hugging me.
I clung to Mom for a few seconds, and she whispered, "Don't cry, my little princess."
I bit my lip and she smiled at me—the way she always did—and I had to smile in response. "I'll write while I'm at Shiz, I promise," I said, as strongly as I could. Mom nodded and Dad smiled at me as well.
Then I carefully climbed into the carriage and then waved goodbye, trying hard not to cry.
