As the next ten months passed, they grew even closer. Xoa was closer to Niko than ever before. The problems of the world still existed around them, but all they saw was each other. They had the love that everyone wanted, yet nobody knew about it. All they cared about was being together and having fun in the privacy of their own worlds. They planned a future together, away from their families and friends and community. They would begin a new life together. One where they could spend their days making each other happy, as they always had and as they always would.
The friendship that had begun with Sage and Drey continued, and together the four girls laughed, kept secrets, made jokes, and sometimes cried. Xoa thought she had the perfect life despite her difficulties. Dean continued to abuse his family, leaving bruises over Xoa almost every month. Xoa was no longer scared of Dean. She was angry and ready to fight back. She was tired of the physical, verbal and emotional abuse Dean had directed towards her brothers and parents. She just wanted it to stop.
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