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“Parents have to, or should, watch their children, right?”

Maklr nodded. “Should being the key word.”

Nell continued. “So what if the child is playing, and the injured parent pushes them on a swing or holds them as their kid climbs or goes down a slide? Would that be useful? I think it’d be family bonding and therapy disguised as play time. I think it might bring a sense of normalcy to the families as well.”

Maklr scratched his chin. “I think you’re brilliant.”

Nell flushed at his praise. “Do you think it’ll work? I have another idea, but no clue on how to implement it. What about a form of Occupational Therapy?”

“One thing at a time, but I say we try the family area and obstacle course when we get back.”

“Really?”

“How did you figure it out?”

“You asked me once about my arm. I know I only mentioned it in passing.”

“Are you sure you want to tell me?”

“It was on the harem ship, maybe a few weeks before your friend and his squadron found us and rescued me. I was on yet another planet at another auction. The Elodians sold me for a night to the most grotesque and evil looking alien I’d ever seen. His eyes were cold, and he felt evil.” Nell wrapped her arms around herself. “I don’t know how else to explain it, other than evil radiating off him. Like a foul stench, worse than rotting food.”

A tear slid down her cheek. “He abused me. He threatened me with his words and fists if I didn’t obey and submit to him. I fought back a bit, but he restrained me. While he had me tied up, he ordered a luxurious meal and ate it in front of me. My stomach growled, but he didn’t feed me. At that point, I wasn’t sure when I’d eaten last, and I cried. He bought me for a full night cycle. I wanted it to end quickly. It was my first experience on the harem ship.”

“Son of a bitch,” Maklr said.

“He was a pig. He gave me a bit of water so I didn’t get dehydrated, but he didn’t feed me or let me go to the bathroom. While restrained, I, ah, soiled myself. When he saw that I’d messed myself in front of him and while he ate, he flew into a rage. He undid one restraint, but yanked me from the other. That’s when my arm broke. I screamed and cried, but he forced me to clean my mess with my clothes.”

“What a monster.”

“The women on the harem ship didn’t have much clothing, and when I was done, he lit my clothes on fire in front of me. He left me covered in my filth before he spit on me for good measure.”

“I’m so sorry, Nell.”

“It’s not your fault. That was the day I stopped talking. When the Elodians came back to claim me the next morning, they were furious.”

“As they should have been.”

Nell smiled sadly. “Not with him. With me.”

“Why?”

“Because I was a money-maker for them. Injured, I couldn’t bring in credits. They threw me in a cell in the bowls of their ship, feeding me once a day until my arm healed.”

“Oh, Nell.”

Nell’s face turned stark white, silent tears streaming down her face, and her eyes were terrified.

“That wasn’t the worst,” Nell whispered.

“How could it get worse?” Maklr’s voice was hoarse.

“He followed me. Or the ship I was on. Everywhere I went, he was there. Sometimes he lurked in the shadows. Other times he was right there, visible to everyone.”

“He stalked you.”

Nell stared at the wall, her expression unreadable. “I knew whatever you’d faced was horrific, but not like this. I didn’t mean to send you into a nearly catatonic state.” Maklr crouched closer to her, gently reaching out a hand to wipe away her tears. When he touched her, she flinched violently and let out an agonized shriek. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Nell, I didn’t think,” he apologized immediately and removed his hand. She was shaking. He took a blanket from the couch and placed it around her shoulders, taking great care not to touch her.

Nell reached out to him as he went to sit back down. She quickly typed on the tablet before passing it to him.It wasn’t your fault. You deserved to know the truth about why I am the way I am.