“That’s what matters,” Caretaker whispered happily, caressing Whumpee’s injured face. “You came out. You came out alive.”
“That’s what matters. Not that I was beaten. Not that my skin was ripped from me. Not that I had to witness others be tortured in even worse ways.” Their voice quivered intensely. “I came out alive. I’ll be forever changed and broken, but at least I came out alive.”















