"We'll need to take your clothes and it would be really helpful if you were to be examined, this will help prove John guilty in your case." The detective writes things down on a stack of forms. He says there will probably a trial if I want to get him jailed. I told him the whole story and he wrote down every word, every little detail.

"I'll do anything to get him sent away." I can't let him get away with this.

"So, when will the trial begin?" Stef asks him.

"As soon as we gather the evidence and get the results from the examination, so the sooner we make an appointment the better," He says. "We can take you in today."

"Okay, I agree, the sooner the better," I comply.

"Gracie, you can borrow something of Callie's, she's about your size. Come with me," Lena says. The cop hands us a clear evidence bag. Lena gives me a pair of Callie's sweatpants and a plain blue sweatshirt. I put them on in the bathroom and pajamas in the bag. We go back downstairs, and I hand the bag to the detective.

"Thank you. I have all I need, but you should know that this isn't going to be easy, but with everything you've told me today, the odds are in your favor." He smiles at me.

"Wait, so, there is a chance he might not be prosecuted?" Lena asks.

"It all depends on the Judge and the Jury, but all the evidence provided is excellent. Okay, are you ready to go? I can take you or your social worker or-"

"Can Stef and Lena take me?" I ask him, looking at the pair.

"It's fine with us," Stef says.

"Okay, then let's go, Stef you know where the clinic is right?" He asks.

"Right, we'll meet you there." I shake his hand and we all set off. I sit in the back seat of Stef's big car. "If you want, one of us can come in with you, if you don't want to be alone."

"No, it's okay. I can do it." I say staring mindlessly out of the window. Once we get there, my hands start to shake and I'm sweating again. But if I want justice, which I do, then I have to do this. I can't let this happen to anyone else. Stef says my name at the reception and the woman at the desk calls one of the Doctors. She almost instantly comes out and leads us to her office. She asks me a few questions, but thankfully she doesn't make me tell the whole story again.

"Okay, thank you, Gracie, now if you're ready?" I nod. "Great, follow me." Stef and Lena who look at me with loving eyes as I follow the doctor into a small examination room. I have to get naked for her. It drags on and feels longer than it is and it's uncomfortable, but I just keep thinking of how much good this will do. She takes pictures of my bruises. And she asks about how I hurt my shoulder when I'm back out in the office with Stef and Lena and she ends up taking me to another room to get an X-Rayed.

"Is it broken?" Stef asks her when she comes in with the pictures.

"No, just very bruised, you're gonna want to rest it. Maybe take some aspirin if it's bothering you."

We thank her and go back out into the waiting room where the police officer and Anita are waiting for us.

"Okay, once the results are back, we'll have everything we need for the trial. I'd give it a few weeks before everything's ready." He says.

"Weeks?" Anita asks. "I'm not sure I can find a home for Gracie that will take her for that long. She needs a consistent home, especially at a time like this." She puts her around me.

"Well, we could take her, as long as it's temporary," Stef says. I feel a tiny spark of hope inside of me. I look at Lena, who looks a little taken aback, but she agrees. "We still have our foster license; I don't see why it's a problem."

"Okay, well great. I'll send for Gracie's things and they'll probably arrive later today."

"While you were in there, John was arrested, so he's off the streets for now, but we don't know how long it'll be until someone posts bail for him, so it's good that you have somewhere to stay and be safe, Gracie." I'm so relieved that I start to tear up. I hug the officer and Anita in appreciation, and then Stef and Lena too.

"Look Gracie as long as you have somewhere safe to stay, you'll get through this. I can get you meetings with the counselor at school and you can take as much time off as you need," Lena tells me.

"Thank you so much." I wipe my tears away.

Callie and Brandon have the afternoon off, so they're home when I get dropped off. Stef and Lena have to go to work. Callie opens the door to me and we sit down in the kitchen to talk.

"So, there were a lot of questions and I had to tell the story in a lot of detail, and I got examined and I had to give my clothes to the cops. And I had an X-Ray on my shoulder, it's not broken, in a few days it should be alright."

"I'm so proud of you, it's a step in the right direction. So where are you going to stay?"

I look around to make sure Brandon's not listening. "Stef and Lena wanted to sit you all down to tell you but, I'm staying here. I'm sorry, your room is cramped enough."

"Are you kidding? No, it's fine, this is great. As long as you're safe. This is going to be good for you, I promise."

"I'm just worried, that I won't get past this. I've read stories online and seen documentaries where girls are messed up forever. What if I end up like that?"

"You won't, you're strong, look how far you've come already. Some people don't even tell people until it's too late. It happened to me and I turned out okay."

"Really? It happened to you too?"

"Yeah, um-," She takes a deep breath. "I was raped by my old foster brother in his home."

"Oh, wow I'm sorry, I had no idea," I say.

"It's okay, I mean, it's not okay, it took me a long time to work through it and I still think about it sometimes but, I'm strong too. I'm more than what I came from."

"That's incredible. It just goes to show you really can't read a person just by looking at them, you never know what goes on behind closed doors. Thanks for telling me, Callie."

"No problem, if you need someone to talk to, I'm here, and when you start counseling make sure you say everything on your mind. It helps, trust me. Even if it has nothing to do with what happened." She takes my hand. "If you keep things bottle up the only get worse. I learned that the hard way." I smile and thank her.

Callie asks me to help her cook dinner. She says that the family takes turns every night, tonight is pasta night. So, she has me chop all the vegetables while she does all the real cooking. I've never cooked before, so I don't want to burn the house down. I slowly start to feel more normal. I truly have a friend in Callie, and I'm truly safe. Finally.