Eve
Lia's voice was soft but direct.
"Elliot… how did you stop your grandma from hurting your mummy?"
His brows furrowed, confused by the question.
"I… I don't know."
"Try," Lia encouraged. "Think back to that moment. What were you feeling? What did you do?"
Elliot looked down at his hands again, then at me. He blinked once. Twice. Then said slowly,
"I was scared. She was screaming. Mummy was shaking and crying, and… and I didn't want it to happen again."
He paused, jaw clenching.
"So I shouted. I told her to stop. I told her I was there now. That I'd fight."
"And that's when you shifted?"
He nodded.
"I didn't know what would happen. I just—" He hugged himself tighter. "I just wanted it to stop."
Lia didn't respond right away. Neither did I.
