After hearing the therapist mention snippets of her past, Ashley began to let her guard down further. She was surprised to hear that many there were in a similar situation, she felt silly for not having reached out to anyone earlier. It seemed that escaping the bad life was common, she just didn't know who she could have turned to.
"It.... It isn't easy, is it. Leaving it all behind. I still can't help but get that feeling of panic when I see someone in uniform, even though I am doing no wrong. While I was put trying to survive, that cost me dearly. Looking back, there was places I could have stayed and been relatively safe..... I just have trouble trusting.... And for that I am sorry, I don't mean come across as standoffish"
She wanted to make friends with the therapist. She seemed like someone Ashley would enjoy spending time with. She was starting to smile, a slight laugh at the jokes being told and the conversations being had. The interaction was working wonders for her joints as well as her mind.
