MORE THAN GLAD

CASEY sharply raised his head when he heard that. No, did he hear that correctly? He's not having auditory hallucination, right? He felt like he had to ask clearly, so he would be certain that he it wasn't just his imagination. That he really heard what he heard.

So, with a trembling voice, he asked, "You... don't hate me?"

Astrid shook his head. "Why should I? You're as much a victim here as my mother. Besides, you were not even an adult yet when all that happened. It's natural for you to not know what was happening. Especially when you're intentionally kept in the dark. If I hated you when you didn't do anything wrong, what would that make me? And as I've said, I quite like you."

When Casey heard Astrid's answer, he was finally convinced that what he heard the first time was not just his illusion. He blinked, and he felt something fell from his eyes down to his cheeks. When he raised his hand to his cheek, the wet feeling could be clearly felt.

He was crying.