Trust had always been an issue for her, but the Milners proved to be good people and she was able to relax physically as well as mentally. Allowing herself to open up was a novel and difficult venture.  She’d spent numerous nights alone in her new room, weeping quietly, making sure no one ever heard her. It was a pride thing, but also a self-taught defense mechanism. She needed to remain hardened, emotionally solid, never allowing prolonged bouts of sadness to seep into her bones like a poison. In order to survive, she’d needed to detach herself from her feelings and keep her killer instinct sharp.  The Milners proved different than the rest of the world. They were a tough family—strong physically and spiritually with the need to not only survive, but to live. They’d kept their humanity and love for each other alive even in a world that had fallen apart. Riley wanted to be a part of that love, that bond, finding it difficult to truly believe in, until one day when she let it all out, crying hysterically onto Joanne’s shoulder.
