Sergiu finally leaves her room, and I watch as she promptly falls apart. Heavy sobs tear from her chest and despite how every cry of fear shreds my soul to pieces, I force myself to watch the whole thing because her pain is mine to bear. I brought her into this, and I'm responsible for everything that happened to her while under my roof.
I failed to protect her. I brought her into my home and foolishly believed that she would be safe.
A hollowness tears my chest wide open as I force myself to continue looking through the footage, desperate to know just how often Sergiu welcomed himself into her room. I see all the nights we were together. I see the times she would search for me in my home, only to be disappointed to learn I was working. I watch as she cautiously allows herself to begin to trust me, and I watch as that trust begins to shift into something more.
