9

Nothing lasts forever

Harvey stood up and went to the nearest trash can and threw up the few contents he ingested that day. After wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he finally spoke.

"Yes, that is Paula."

"Wait a second! You all know Dr. Agard?" Samantha asked, not addressing anyone in particular in the room, but still waiting for a response.

"Well… yes, she is—" Louis started, but again couldn't finish his sentence.

"She's my wife, Samantha."

Donna realized the blonde hadn't seen Paula floating around and Harvey has been working at the firm for a brief time. Both women had never crossed paths.

"Holy shit!" Samantha exclaimed and started pacing around the room. She didn't know what to think. Harvey had always seemed loyal to her, but she couldn't imagine what he would do to protect his own wife.

Harvey sensed Samantha wasn't comfortable with him knowing so much about the case anymore. He felt sick to his stomach. He'd been sat next to Donna, watching her relive these horrific events, and finding out who was responsible, the woman he'd shared a life with for the past months... He couldn't help but feel even more guilty. He didn't know about her past like he thought he did.

When they started dating — about nine months after Donna's 'death' — Paula told him she had just come back from England. She was taking part in some kind of psychological research there and moved to New York when her bosses offered her the opportunity to work from anywhere she wanted. He just figured she wanted a new challenge, but now he wasn't so sure of it.

"Samantha, I—" Harvey started, but Samantha was too rattled to let anyone speak.

"I just need silence! I really need to think now." Samantha had fire in her eyes. She couldn't think straight while he was talking.

Harvey's heart was hammering through his ribcage. Samantha couldn't think he had anything to do with this, could she? Did she really assume he was a spy?

Louis moved to the door to make sure no one else would hear them.

"Samantha, I don't think…" Donna tried to reason but was also interrupted. She touched Harvey's arm and stared him in the eyes. Trying to comfort him somehow.

"Everybody, just… wait here!" Samantha raised both hands to make a point. She glanced around as if looking for something. Exhaling, she sidestepped Louis and left the conference room to go to her own office. Louis, Harvey and Donna looked at each other, not understanding what Samantha was searching for.

Louis sighed and threw himself at the nearest chair. He had a pounding headache and couldn't take in what he had just seen in video.

He had not only seen one of his best friends being tortured to breaking point, but also learned one of his friend's wife was responsible for it. Donna was one of the strongest people he knew, and seeing her break like that made his blood boil.

Waiting for the other lawyer to come back, Donna broke the silence.

"Harvey, I know what Samantha is thinking, but I don't believe you had anything to do with what happened to me." She didn't suspect, not for one second, Harvey knew about Paula's involvement. Maybe everything was just a cosmic coincidence.

He released the breath he didn't notice he was holding. If Donna thought he was involved in his wife's apparent double life, he knew he would have crumbled. He could take anyone doubting him, but with Donna it was different. He couldn't understand why or how or when their life had become such a colossal mess. Before he could respond to Donna, who was still touching his arm, Samantha came back with a cardboard box in hand.

She placed the object on the table and began rummaging through the files inside it. She pulled out a blue folder and started skimming through the pages. Everybody just waited.

Donna sighed and took a seat. She brought her hands to her face and all she could think about was how Harvey must be coping. She was still shaken after seeing two years of her life videotaped, but knowing Paula was involved? That royally blindsided her. And for Harvey, who married the goddamn woman… Thinking about him and how he would cope after that, made her gather strength from within. Her instincts to be strong and be there for him never unwavered, even if herself was shaken to the core.

Harvey's mind was blank while Samantha kept looking through a file in her hand. He couldn't really fathom what was going on, and that could only be described as shock and denial.

His wife couldn't have helped people torture and kidnap people. She was sweet. She took care of him and helped him through the most difficult time of his life. She was a good person, right?

"Here!" Samantha shouted, making Donna jump on her seat and look at the blonde.

"Care to explain now, Wheeler?" Louis spoke in his lawyer mode.

"This is Agard's register." She explained and placed the file in the direction of where Harvey was standing.

That got him out of his trance as he started to scan it. "Paula was one of the psychiatrists that worked for the people who took Donna," Samantha continued and pointed out a few of the reports inside the register to Harvey.

Louis had begun to go through the box himself, not really listening to Samantha, but forming assumptions of his own with the documents he had in hand.

"After they take a victim, some families find it difficult to move on and when that's the case they implant someone in the victim's life so they can keep tabs on them… to assure no one finds out about their activities. Therefore, some victims require more… hm… work from them?"

"So she became my therapist to make sure I really thought Donna was…" He gasped. He couldn't even say the word anymore. It made him sick again, and that only added fuel to the anger he was feeling rise deep inside.

"Well… yes. That's what it says right here." She pointed at a page in the file. "There's nothing about having to marry the victim's family, though." Samantha continued, throwing Harvey a stern look. It was obvious Samantha didn't like the fact Harvey married not only his therapist, but a woman who was directly involved in the disappearance of her friend.

Harvey went to the decanter in the corner and poured himself a glass of water. That was too much. His brain was working in overdrive now. He thought about all the therapy sessions he had with Paula and when they began dating.

He recalled her advising him to let Donna rest in peace, even though he didn't feel she was dead. He could still sense Donna, and Paula kept telling him he had to let go. And to make matters worse, those were the exact words he'd used with her when he asked her out. "I'm letting go, and I want to let go with you." How could he be so stupid? He remembered she made him get rid of the can-opener when they started dating, something he could never do, deciding to go to the storage unit instead, and leave it there with everything else that was left of Donna's. She persuaded and manipulated him, and he was sure of it now. Most of his therapy sessions were about his mother, and how losing Donna reflected on his abandonment issues. Paula diminished his instincts and convinced him he didn't really have feelings for the redhead. He believed her when she said he had to stop visiting Donna's apartment and the storehouse, even when he told her he wasn't ready to do that. And worst of all, Paula implied, many times, that Donna was just his assistant and not someone who had more feelings towards him and vice versa.

2015

"Harvey, we have been through this for the last trimester. Donna is not your mother. She was just your secretary. Sure, she took care of most of your professional and personal issues, but that's just because you paid her to do so. And I'm sorry, but she's been dead for nine months now. You have to let her go."

Paula was impatient with him already. She found him charming and handsome, but boy he was infuriating. Why couldn't he just let go of his secretary? They usually had difficulties regarding mothers or fathers, but bosses? That was a first.

"You don't understand, doctor," he had a strained voice and was holding tears he hadn't yet shed that day, "I feel her everywhere. I just... It's like what I feel, unlike her, is immortal. It doesn't go away and I'm miserable all the time."

He couldn't meet the doctor's gaze anymore and turned to face the window. It was a beautiful morning for the outside world. There were birds singing and flying through the shimmering blue sky. It was a blossoming spring day. Yet, all he could see was gray. The only person who made him see colors was gone. Donna's smile would brighten his day. Her laugh would be music to his ears. Her eyes would speak a thousand words and nothing and no one could compare to her. He lost the one person whom he could share his wins and loses with. She was his family, and instead of saying he loved her in every sense of the word, he left her. And because of that, she was gone. It was his fault. He had three options that night: Stay silent and go home; say he loved her and seek her embrace; and be stupid, say what he felt for her and flee. He was a coward, and she deserved better than that. She deserved a life that didn't involve someone like him. Someone broken with parental issues. She deserved the world, because she was his. He was just too weak to face it, if he was hers.

"If Donna really cared for you as a friend and her boss, the way I think she did, she wouldn't want to see you like this. You have to let her go."

"But I feel like she is still alive."

"Harvey, you saw her body. You cremated her. Do you need more proof that she's dead? You're in denial."

Harvey froze. He never told her he had seen Donna's body in the morgue. Or did he?

Paula sensed she had put her foot in her mouth. She had to be more careful with him. He wasn't oblivious; he was hurting, but he was smart.

"How do you—" He asked. Maybe Dr. Agard could read him like Donna and actually figure out things about him without him having to say them.

"What? That she was cremated? You told me that." She played dumb. She had to think fast so he wouldn't suspect anything.

"No… about her body…" He explained, even though with Donna he would never have to explain a thing. She just knew.

"I'm getting more concerned about you, Harvey. You don't remember telling me about the day you saw her corpse?" Paula asked, as if with actual wariness.

"No… I… I don't know… I guess?"

The doctor sighed. For him, it was concern written on her face, but she was actually relieved he believed her.

We wanna be remembered

Don't wanna live in vain

But nothing lasts forever

This world is in a losing game

(Immortal - Marina and the Diamonds)

Harvey kept looking at Agard's file for several minutes. His mind was in a spiral as he tried to absorb what was written about his life. It was all a lie. Everything she drove him to believe, all they said to each other and even their vows to each other. He felt disgusted by her, disappointed at himself and relieved. Despite his conflicted emotions, she had betrayed him. And now, there was no question about the impending divorce.

Folding the file, Harvey got up from his chair and went to the door, but before he could pull the handle, Samantha stopped him.

"Where do you think you're going?" She had a grip on his arm to not let him leave.

"I have to talk to her," Harvey stated almost impassively. No one could understand his expression when he turned to the room. No one but Donna. His pupils were dilated, his left hand was in a fist, but he wasn't angry. It was almost as if he had his game face on. It was like he had one purpose. Donna didn't know what it was, which made her wary of his every movement.

"No. If you talk to her, you'll blow the entire plan!" Samantha explained and looked at Donna for back up. The blonde knew the bond Harvey and Donna had was unique and they were the only ones who could make each other cave.

Harvey stared at Donna and saw her shoulders slump. She tilted her head to the side and gave him a look that had him frowning.

"Harvey, if you tell her anything, she'll know the FBI is on to her and she might say something to the people she works with."

"She doesn't work with them anymore." Harvey said, remembering what he could grasp from her file, but almost kicked himself for the knee-jerk reaction. Why was he defending her now? She didn't deserve his backing. "I'm sorry, I guess some habits die hard," he apologized.

"It doesn't matter if she's still working for them or not, Harvey. She can tip them off."

Harvey dipped his head, realizing Samantha had a point. Taking a sharp intake of breath, he took a seat and put his face in his hands and uttered "so, what's the plan?"

"Let me make some calls," Samantha said, not laying out all her cards. "I think we should call it a day and I'll get back to you all tomorrow."

"I think that's best." Donna agreed. She went to her computer and waited for it to finish copying the files from the flash drive.

"I need to go home to Sheila, but can we leave this box in my office? I'll go through everything first thing tomorrow."

"Sure, Louis." Samantha answered. "These are only copies anyway," she explained, "the real ones are with the FBI."

"I'll call Paula and say I'll be pulling an all-nighter." Harvey glanced at Samantha for any sign of what he should do not to blow up their case. "It's not like I can see her. I'll end up saying something and we can't risk that."

Samantha nodded. "We should meet tomorrow morning."

"You all can come to my place. We can discuss a curse of action there," Donna suggested, plugging off the flash drive and handing it to Louis, who would want to go through all the videos for the class action.

Harvey looked tired and sick. He was pale and had circles under his eyes; the day taking a toll on him. Donna thought he looked at least ten years older since the day started. She was sure she didn't look good either. Having part of her memories back was also troublesome. She still didn't know what she had done after her memory was wiped out, but now she had a name for the person responsible for the man she stabbed and who learned the fighting moves that threw Harvey across the hall. It wasn't really Donna. It was Julia. Two distinct people who shared one body.

She needed time to get to know Julia; what she did and what she was like. And that terrified her to the core.

She made a mental note to schedule an earlier appointment with Dr. Lipschitz.

…

That night, Donna was in her dimly lit apartment, nursing a glass of wine and reminiscing the day's events. She wasn't quite sure how to feel. Would Harvey condemn his wife? Did she want Paula to pay for what she did, like she wanted Charles to go to jail? And what did it mean for Harvey? Would their friendship come out of it unscathed? Would he forgive her if Paula went to jail?

She wanted to make everyone who played a part in her disappearance pay, but now that Paula was one of them, she wasn't so sure. If Paula was anyone else, she wouldn't think twice. She would want her to pay. However, being Harvey's wife, she had to consider that it would hurt him to witness someone who's part of his life being prosecuted. The thought of her class action hurting him was a heavyweight.

Back in the office, Harvey had left Paula a voicemail saying he would pull an all nighter at the firm due to a recent crisis. He asked his wife not to wait up and said that he missed her; adding the last bit not to raise any suspicions. After that, he took off his already loose tie, unbuttoned his cuffs and the first two buttons of his dress shirt, took off his shoes, and laid down on the leather couch in his office. Everyone had already gone home, including Donna. She had stopped by, asking if he was okay and if he needed anything, but Donna being Donna sensed he just needed space and silence to think. He had checked in on her, too. Asking if she was okay, but both were too haunted to acknowledge how they were really feeling. He couldn't help but grieve. Sure he had been confused since Donna came back. But none of it meant he didn't tell Paula the truth. He wanted to marry her. He was truthful when he said his vows and believed her when she told him she loved him back. Before Donna came back, Harvey had wanted to spend the rest of his life with Paula. He really thought his therapist, then girlfriend, then wife had helped him face his demons and understand his feelings towards Donna and his mother. However, now he questioned everything. Was it all a lie? How could he be so clueless? He was supposed to be smarter than that. Had all his compartmentalization clouded his judgement to a point he really couldn't see what was right in front of him? First, not addressing his feelings for Donna sooner, then marrying not only a liar but also a criminal.

He spent most of the night in the company of his father's records and a tumbler of scotch; recounting every nice and bad moment he ever had with Paula until he succumbed to exhaustion.

At six, he woke up in a frenzy. His dream revolved around him being stuck in quicksand, helplessly watching Paula torturing Donna. He would scream and shout, but Donna would only look at him expressionless, only her tears betraying her resolve. Paula would stick needles under Donna's fingernails or put a cloth over her face, suffocating her with water. He woke up only when Donna choked on the same sentence that haunted him for more than a year after she disappeared — "You left me, and now there's no turning back."

He had to see her. He changed into the spare suit he kept in his office, texted Ray to meet him in front of the firm and made one more call.

…

Samantha was used to waking up early to go boxing or running. That morning, however, she stayed in. She was due to meet Donna at around eight, but first, she had to put her plan into action. She was not sure how Harvey would react after learning his part, but she had to try. They had to have all the evidence so there wouldn't be any loopholes in the case and if Harvey agreed to help, then they could prosecute everyone involved.

Samantha didn't really understand Harvey's and Donna's dynamic, but her gut was telling her she could trust Harvey would do anything for the redhead, even going after his own wife.

Thinking about Paula made her flinch. She'd never met her in person, but she had read her file. She was a meticulous, cold-blooded English woman who had graduated first in her class at Oxford and was soon recruited by a clinic which conducted drug induced psychology research. Paula had started as an intern and after two years began seeing her own subjects/victims. She had very little contact with Donna before she was assigned to her first outdoor subject — Also known as the friends and family of the victims the clinic chose. It was inconclusive how long she worked with patients before moving on to their families, since there was a gap between the change. What was unmistakable though was the time of her contract termination with the clinic - a year after Donna's 'death'.

The FBI still didn't have a name for those who were funding the clinic, but if everything went according to Samantha's plan, that would change.

Taking a sip from her coffee, sitting at her kitchen island, she picked her phone and sent Donna's address to Carvalho, her source at the FBI, asking him to meet her there at eight with his partner.

Focussing on Agard's file in front of her, Samantha couldn't help but wonder if Paula had married Harvey out of love or duty. Everything about her sessions and talks with him were documented for five months, then she resigned and nothing else was added to her file.

Sighing, she pinched the bridge of her nose and decided to take an aspirin before her headache set roots.

Her phone started ringing and picking it up from the counter, she was not even a bit surprised to see who it was.

"Harvey, what can I do for you?"

…

Donna woke up after a restless slumber. After having some coffee and dry toast, she put on her yoga outfit, and began with a very much needed meditation on top of her mat. With the voice of the app's instructor, she moved from position to position, feeling her tense muscles unknot and a light sweat form over her body. It was taking more effort from her to keep the thoughts away than the physical exercise.

She pushed through her limits, standing in the same position for as long as the burning in her muscles allowed. She was exhausting her body to numb her thoughts. She knew it would be fruitless, but at least she would feel something other than dread.

She buried everything she wasn't ready to face, and the things she could — the class action suit or would Harvey forgive her? Became all consuming.

It was all that kept coming to her mind, but as far as she was concerned, she needed to go through with it. Not only for her peace of mind but also for the other victims.

When her calves could no longer resist the Goddess Pose, she switched to the Lotus Posture and meditated for a few minutes. She fought her thoughts, even though she wasn't supposed to. She should let them come and then let them go. But today was not the day to let them develop. She just wanted them to disappear and leave her the hell alone so she could escape for a few minutes.

She inhaled. She exhaled. She inhaled again. And there was a knocking on her door.

Donna peered with one eye and looked at the time on top of her fireplace. Sighing, she got up and went to open the door. Samantha said she would arrive at eight. It was five to seven. Maybe she had more news?

Anyway, her meditation was ruined.

She opened the door with a swoosh and saw the man who had been constantly on her mind. He looked tired and haunted. The stubble on his jaw made him seem older and more serious. It was a look she was not comfortable with. His tie was all messed up and his hair completely out of place. She stared at him, agape and surprised.

The sight of her in a tank-top, leggings and ponytail with a flushed face, void from make-up and heels, all freckled and sweaty made him forget why he came to her so early. She was everything he ever wanted but still wasn't his to claim. All he could think about now was that she had lied when he offered her a ride and she said she needed to be somewhere.

"You mentioned you had someplace else to be," he stated.

Donna raised her gaze to greet his brown orbs and choked on a "what?"

"When I offered you a ride, you said you had somewhere to be. You gave Ray this address, and after that I kept wondering if you had come here to meet someone. But you live here." He explained, not hiding how tired he was. He wasn't angry. His voice had a softness that was not only new but also contrasted his expression.

"I…" The word was all Donna could murmur, before he picked his head towards her apartment and asked if she had some coffee to offer him.

She let him in and took a second to close the door.

"Harvey, are you okay?" She managed to speak, heading to her kitchen where he already claimed a stool.

"Why did you lie?" Pure curiosity dressed his tone.

"I didn't lie. I said I had somewhere to be, and I did. I just never said I had to be home." She answered him and started rummaging through her kitchen to make him a fresh cup of coffee.

Home. Did he even have one?

He nodded at her back and watched her pace around the small space that screamed Donna. Everything about it was classy, homy and beautiful. From the warm colors on the walls to the little snippets here and there.

He cleared his throat and tried not to think about how he could get used to domesticity.

"What are you doing here so early, Harvey?" She asked him, starting to brew the coffee.

"Samantha gave me your address, and I had to see you. Though, I couldn't…" He lowered his gaze to his intertwined hands on the counter. Shame adorned his handsome features and Donna's heart ached for the shadow of the man he once was.

"Go home to Paula." She concluded for him. She'd always had the uncanny ability to read him, he loved it about her. However, knowing that she was kidnapped because of it made her talent seem like more of a curse now. He flinched at the thought and allowed himself to take her in even had both hands flat on the kitchen island. Her body was leaning towards him slightly, as if studying his every movement. She was dressed down and nevertheless utterly beautiful.

"I'm sorry." Donna said in a sad voice, not taking her eyes off of him.

"What do you have to be sorry about?" he urged, thoroughly perplexed by her apology. If the past few days had taught him anything, it was the fact that he had to make it up for what happened to her for the rest of his life. First, for being so stupid and not seeing what was right in front of his face. He should have trusted his instincts and searched for her. And second, for marrying someone who had betrayed him, destroyed him, and who turned out to be a fucking criminal.

"I'm sorry about Paula. I know it must be painful for you to find out about her past like this." She dipped her head, and he finally understood. She wasn't apologizing. She was feeling sorry for him, and he hated it.

"Don't. It's not… Just don't do that." He begged, turning his head towards the door and thinking about escaping.

"I know how you feel…"

"How can you know what it's like? You don't know what it's like to lose someone like this. Someone you thought you knew—" He asked with a bewildered and strained voice.

"Probably not exactly how, but I do." She interrupted him, without raising her voice and looking at him tenderly. She really did. She knew all too well what was like to lose someone and be misled by the ones she loved. She thought about her father, who lost all her family's money and her sister, to whom she barely spoke with.

He let out a resigned sigh. He resented the day he met Paula and the day he asked her out. He resented ever saying he loved her, and most of all; he resented not actually loving her. Because he thought did, but how could he love someone who did such godforsaken horrible things?

Donna gave him the fresh cup of coffee and poured one for herself, claiming a seat in front of him.

They both sipped from their mugs in silence, letting their senses be filled with the taste and scent of vanilla.

"I'm glad you're here…" Donna said, placing her mug between her hands on the counter, absorbing the warmth the room seemed to lack, "because I had to talk to you privately." Concern took place in his stance as he waited for her to elaborate with a tilt of his head. For such a good poker player, reading Harvey has never been difficult.

"I know Paula is your wife and I really don't want to hurt you," she started the conversation she had been tormented by since the day before, "but I don't want to stop with the class action."

"I don't want you to stop the class action suit because of her." He spat the word 'her' as if it was poison.

Did she really presume he would want her to stop the class action to protect Paula? But then it dawned on him. Of course she did. And that's what he was supposed to want. Paula was his wife, and he had a duty to protect her and stay by her side. The problem was, both of them had already broken their vows to each other.

Harvey couldn't be more confused. One second he hated Paula with all his might; the next he was trying to understand. Nothing made sense anymore, besides what he felt for the woman in front of him who was the exact opposite of his wife. Donna had always been empathetic. Always putting other people's feelings above her own and making sure people could rely on her about everything. She always had this unwavering faith in him and never once betrayed his trust. She was concerned about him because she thought she would hurt him. What she didn't realise was that the only way to hurt him, was if anyone hurt her.

"Don't you see?" Harvey placed his hands on hers and began, "my marriage is over, and she should pay for what she's done."

"Should she?" Donna's uncertainty made him question his own words, but she continued. "I mean, you married her, you must still love her… Doesn't she deserve forgiveness?" Donna pleaded. It wasn't like her to just let him off that easy. She had to know if he was indeed ready to end his relationship with a woman he thought he would spend the rest of his life with. She also needed to know his heart and mind were in the right place when she followed with the class action that would surely incriminate his wife.

"No, she doesn't. Not from me." He released her hands and stood up. Facing the nearest window, he sighed and explained further. "She could have lied about anything or anyone else… but when she did, she hurt you and that is unforgivable." He turned around and looked at Donna. She should know by now that he would die before he let anyone hurt her.

"Why?"

"Because with you it's different."

And just like that, they were back in time. They were sitting on her couch, sipping on wine. He had said he would never let anything happen to her, that she shouldn't worry about it. And then he said he loved her and left. Only this time, he was not leaving.

"Different how?" Donna couldn't let him off. She had to know.

"Completely."

"What does that mean?" Her brows furrowed, and she put her mug aside. The black liquid had lost its taste and warmth.

"It means that If it was anyone else, I wouldn't feel the way I feel. I can take anyone coming at me with anything, but I can't take you getting hurt. I already lost you once, and it tore me apart. And I'll do anything to see her and Charles and everyone else pay. I told you I would never let anything ever happen to you and I broke that promise when I left your apartment that day… and… I'm not about to do that ever again."

Donna's eyes were wide as saucers. She wasn't expecting him to remember his promise, and she was definitely not hoping he would put her above his own wife. All she could think about was that all of this had to mean something other than friendship, right?

After the other time they wouldn't dare tough each other's arm because even a brush of fingers sent shivers through her spine, and now they couldn't stay in the same room without feeling the air thicken and the walls close in. All she wanted was to reach out and comfort him, otherwise she didn't know how to breathe.

All he craved was to go to her, lift her off the ground and kiss her with all he had left, for it was the only means to survive.

But they couldn't. He was still married, even if he didn't feel like it. He needed to follow whatever the FBI and Samantha had planned and then… Then he would lay his heart out on the line for Donna and hope for the best. If he was scared before to tell her his feelings, now he was mortified of seeing her moving on to a life that did not include him.

Donna swallowed a lump in her throat and took a hard deep breath.

"Thank you, Harvey." She avoided his gaze and checked her phone making an excuse to leave the room before he said something else that couldn't be taken back.

"Oh! I didn't realize..." She blurted, looking at her phone, but not really registering the time nor the missing calls from Thomas. "Samantha will be here any second with the FBI. I have to take a shower." She didn't know what she was saying or what she was feeling, but she needed to get away from him.

"Make yourself at home. I'll… I'll just…" She stumbled, motioning towards her bedroom and getting up, leaving him in her kitchen.

A/N: I did some research on victims of torture during the 64's dictatorship in Brazil (my country) and all I could grasp from their POV was pain and anger. I cannot even begin to fathom what it must be like for these people and their families. All I know is that we should not condone such horrifying actions. It's not my intention to minimize their pain with romance. You'll see more of the feelings regarding this subject and I hope to do them justice.

Thank you, Cassie, for putting up with me and helping me write better. I would never be able to do this without your insight and guidance. I'm so grateful to have you in my life. Thank you, Luana, for the encouragement and for boosting my confidence! Without you two, I'm empty. And last, but not least, thank you RafCL83 (I don't know your name) for the AMAZING reviews and support!