Chapter 264. Fighting Guilt and Shame

Aria’s voice softened, a mix of understanding and firmness. “Rue, listen to me, I need you to hear me. Vanessa’s death was not on you. You tried to protect her. You fought for her when no one else would. But Elder Robert…he was the monster, and what he did was out of your control.” 

“He could have killed you, he really could have,” She continued, and I took her words in. She was right, I could have died in that basement. Elder Robert was acting very impulsive and crazy that day.

Yet I still felt some guilt and anger swirling like a storm in me. “I should have been stronger, or if I had just told him where the thumb drive was in time, she would have still been alive.” And that was something that was going to mess with my mind for a very long time. 

“Come on,” Aria tried to stop me, her voice echoing through my mind. “Stop that. You did everything you could. Look, I am not going to keep trying to baby you. You can not afford this. You keep doing this to yourself a