“That seems to be a recurring theme for you.”

“What? Courage?”

“No, videotaping outcasts in their quest for structure and family, ” Thinking she was being clever Alice added, “You better be careful you don’t get type-documented with all these stories about victims and survivors.”

Dylan gritted her teeth and without a smile responded, “I suppose I can identify with them. They deserve to be heard. Someone has to tell their story.”

Alice saw that Dylan failed to find humor in her tongue-in-cheek comment. She tried to delve deeper into Dylan’s response, “So Dylan, you believe you are a victim?”

Dylan took a deep breath. She was not prepared to go into her personal life with Alice. She rocked nervously in her chair and answered deliberately. “I suppose, Alice, we are all victims of some pain or disappointment.”

Alice refused to let the question die and repeated, “And you are a victim?”

Dylan increased the pace of her rocking and fidgeting. She did not answer the question immediately. She could not think quickly enough to answer. She had hardly discussed with anyone the horrible physical and mental abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her parents, grandparents and then the foster parents she was placed in. While in the foster system, she bounced from home to home and never felt loved, wanted or like she belonged. Danny came to her rescue to some extent. He became like family to her. He looked out for her and rescued her from the last abusive foster family she was with. Over time they became lovers but the sexual component of their relationship was never fully gratifying for her and over time was it a significant part of their relationship.

Regardless, he treated her well and never forced himself on her. She was grateful for the safety she felt with him and looked up to him.  They had very little in a monetary sense but they had each other. They took care of and trusted each other. She ran with him and all of his half-backed get rich quick schemes. Over and over again, none ever panned out. He had a hard edge about him but in general was kind to her. He had very little trust for most people. He believed and preached that people would eventually screw you over. His general suspicion about people made him want to take advantage before they could take advantage of him. This was away of life for him. Much like a shark, eat or be eaten.