It was not until hours later when the moon hung high in the sky along with the glistening stars, that Evie was able to push herself up on her wobbly arms and get to her feet. She staggered back in the dark hoping desperately that she was headed in the right direction to get home. Her mind was too frazzled to really comprehend and understand where she was and where she needed to be. Her eyes were blinded by tears causing her to trip over a tree branch and slam back into the ground having only taken a dozen steps forward. She cried out harder as her hands and knees stung with the impact having broken her fall.

She begun to pull herself forward along the uneven ground unable to stand up again. It was a pathetic attempt at an army crawl though. After only travelling she stopped and rolled over to stare up at the sky above her. With an accusing glare she looked at the moon feeling utterly betrayed.

'Y-you were sup-p-ppossed to bind me to someone who would love and protect me for- forever. Why... why is this happening to me. Please moon goddess make the pain stop. Please I will do anything... I just want the pain to stop.' Worn out by her desperate plea, Evie's eyes began to slowly close giving in to the tiredness that was consuming her. She was ready to fall into a pit and never climb out.

'Evie! Evie is that you?!' A voice called in the distance. With great effort, Evie opened her eyes to see the concerned face of Joanne hovering above her.

'Oh my god Evie, your mum and I have been so worried about you. What happened? Why are you still out here all by yourself?' Joanne's hands hovered over Evie's tear-streaked face as a flurry of worried questions spewed from her mouth. Joanne feared that if she handled the battered girl that she would shatter into a million pieces.

'Please... Joanne, help me.' Evie managed to croak out.

'Oh, baby girl, it's going to be okay. Don't worry, I'm going to take you home now.' Joanne said as she wrapped Evie's scratched arm around her neck and stood up to pull the limp Evie upright. This was a difficult feat even though Evie was petite, Joanne was even smaller.

Slowly the pair silently made their way the small cottage Evie called home. Not once did Joanne complain about the weight of her companion - rather she just pushed onwards. When the small building came into view Evie could make out her mum standing on the veranda waiting for her cousin and daughter to return. With a gasp Marie hurried down the steps as fast as her walking stick would allow to embrace her hollow-eyed child. She wondered what could have possibly happened to make her lively daughtered to look so dead inside. None of the possibilities swirling around in her head were worse than the truth though.

'Oh, my baby. My sweet pumpkin, what happened? Look at you, my baby.' Marie cried out as the weight of Evie's limp body pulled them both to the damp ground. With a gasp Joanne tried to catch the falling pair but was also brought down to the ground.

'Mummy.... my mate... he rejected me. It hurts so bad. Mummy please, please make it stop. It hurts so bad. Please mummy help me.' Evie choked out was gasping breathes. But this was not a pain that could be relieved by a kiss and a band aid from her mum.

'No! Not my baby. No please, not my baby.' Marie cried out as she pulled Evie even closer to her chest. Joanne gasped out in shock and encircled Evie and Marie in her arms to hold their family tight together.

The three women sat on the grass with tears streaking down their faces as the moon watched over them until the sun slowly began to rise over the trees behind them and exhaustion overtook Evie causing her to pass out.

'Marie, let's bring her inside and put her to bed now. She needs her rest if she is going to survive this.' Joanne broke the silence that had engulfed the women for a long time.

'Okay.' Marie's broke voice was a mere whisper that could barely be heard over the chirping of the morning birds that were starting to wake up. She did not know how she would put Evie back together after suffering such pain.

Together, the two cousins managed to manoeuvre the unconscious girl into the house and into her bed. Utterly broke Marie sat on the edge of the bed stroking her daughter hair after pulling up the quilt to cover Evie's shoulders.

'Why is this happening again Joanne. What did I do to cause such pain to my daughter?' Marie cried out softly causing Joanne to reach forward to embrace her before the guilt consumed her.

'Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Evie does not deserve this just as you do not deserve to be reliving this pain through her. We need to stay strong for her. You know that she is going to suffer immensely, and it is our duty as her family to hold her upright until she can stand up for herself again. You can do this... We can do this. Because if we don't...' Joanne trailed off her unspoken thought lingering in the air around them.

'I know. I will be strong for my daughter. I will.' Marie stated with a determined look as she looked lovingly down on her sleeping daughter.

'Good. Come on, you need sleep as well. We will be here when she wakes up.' Joanne gently pulled Marie up and towards the door. Turning back slightly, Marie whispered back to her sleeping child.

'I love you Pumpkin.'