"Hello, Elphaba," I said, distantly, making sure I wasn't looking at her.

"Galinda?" she asked, unsure.

I barely nodded in acknowledgement and she said, "Glinny, please talk to me."

I didn't answer and Elphaba sat on her bed, and slowly began to cry. "Galinda, please, I need someone to talk to—I can't deal with this alone. Please help me. Please," she begged me.

I slowly walked over to her bed, and snarled, "Elphaba stop crying!"

Elphaba raised her head and stared numbly at me. "Please, Galinda—I'm only trying to protect you—that's why I don't want you to know what happened to me," she begged, wanting me to understand, tears still streaming down her face.

I glared coldly at her, but when I saw the clear pain and terror and hurt in her eyes, my face softened and I said, "Sit up, Elphie."

She carefully sat up and I sat down next to her.

I slipped my arm over her shoulder and said, "Come here."

Elphaba shifted closer to me and I said, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Elphaba grabbed onto my arm and whispered, "Galinda, I'm scared."

"Scared of what? Scared of who?" I asked, now getting worried.

"Of them," she finished.

"Who are them?" I asked.

Elphaba didn't answer, but only began to cry.

I sighed and, stroking her hair, said, "Elphie, I want to help you, but I can't if you don't tell me what's wrong."

Elphaba clung to me and said, "Galinda, I'll tell you."

"Was it that bad?" I asked, suddenly getting angry—at whoever had hurt my sister—they would pay—with their lives if necessary—I would see to it.

Elphaba nodded and whispered, "It's a long story. I'll start at the beginning and I'll tell you everything, if and only if you agree to never tell anyone ever—I've already told Mother and Father what happened and they're the only other people, besides you, who actually have a right to know."

I nodded and wrapped my arms around Elphaba, pulling her closer, and said, "Elphaba, I'm ready to hear your story."

Elphaba nodded and slowly began her story.

Elphaba's POV

"Galinda, you'd just insulted me and thought I was a green bean," I began slowly, studying my sister's face.

Galinda nodded and I carefully continued, "I went outside for a walk and explored Shiz, figuring out where my classes would be. Then I went to the library to see if I could get a job there, but when I arrived, I changed my mind and walked back outside—I really needed to calm down before I applied for a job anywhere."

Galinda nodded and I bit my lip, beginning to shake.

She wrapped her arms around me and said, "It's OK, Elphie. You're safe. You're home. I'm here. I won't let anything happen. I promise."

When I didn't respond, she tilted my head upward and said, "Elphie, do you trust me?"

I nodded and she said, "Do you believe what I told you?"

I nodded again and said, "Galinda—this is when the trouble really started.'

Galinda nodded and I said, "You know how I'm green and I used to hide in trees when I was little and was really upset about something?"

Galinda nodded and said, "Yeah, I remember—the first time you got stuck in a tree and I tried to get you down, but got myself stuck in the tree too and we had to wait for Popsical to come home to get us down."

I laughed and said, "I remember that too, and there was one detail you forgot—we were curled up just like we are now."

Galinda stared at me and suddenly I paused. "Galinda, I think I know what's going on with our relationship," I said, slowly.

"Tell me," she ordered.

"When things are great for us, we hate each other. When we're in trouble, we cling to the other. I think we depend on each other to be there only when we need each other," I said, calmly.

"We'll always be there for each other, even when we don't need each other, right, Elphie?" asked Galinda. "Pinky promise," she ordered.

I nodded and we quickly promised to always support the other.

"Elphaba, will you finish your story?" Galinda asked, watching my face.

I nodded and said, "I went into the forest and was about to climb a tree to calm down, like I normally would. Then this group of men just showed up out of nowhere—I swear they weren't there before—and I could see that they were definitely drunk. I was—in all honesty—absolutely terrified."

Galinda wrapped her arms around me and whispered, "Did they rape you, Elphaba?"

I stared at Galinda and said, "Yes, Galinda, those men did rape me. I was too scared to remember what Father had taught us to avoid getting hurt like that—and when they were done, they shoved me and I fell, cracking my head open. It wasn't until midnight that someone from Shiz finally came for me. I was rushed to the infirmary, and I begged the doctor not to tell you—I wanted to tell you, alone.'

Galinda nodded and said, "That's why you didn't want me to find out—but what was with the weird messenger? All he said was 'Galinda Upland! Report to the infirmary now!' That kinda scared me a lot."

"I didn't send him—he was the one who found me," I explained.

Then I asked, "How did you know that I was going to tell you I was raped?"

Galinda shrugged and said, "Elphie—you're my twin sister and I can tell when you've been hurt really badly."

Galinda's POV

I pulled Elphaba closer to me and said, "Go to sleep, Elphie."

Elphaba shook her head and whimpered, "Galinda, stay with me."

I nodded and we curled up on her bed, falling asleep.