Her porcelain cheek still bore the warm stamp of John’s lips and her body the feel of his arms when Kell pulled her close to his chest in the way he always did.  The gentle thump of his heart under her ear washed away any mark John left on her body.  So many people appreciated the small doll-like beauty for the shell she was but now there were so many who loved her for what was inside the shell.<br/><br/>His gesture towards the stairs set her feet in motion, head tipped slightly to the side as she entered the grand building.  Jarek’s arms opened wide for her and she hurried into his embrace, forgetting her escort for the moment.  Her eyes were just for the doctor for it was he who had been with her for so many years, fixing the things that had been broken and mending her shattered mind.<br/><br/>It was Jarek Ovrem who had stopped the sharp pinches of pain from the needles and the tidal waves of chemicals that kept her subdued and imprisoned.  It was Jarek Ovrem who protected the little girl from those who would do her harm.  It was Jarek Ovrem who promised her a future.  And what a future it would be.  The blonde oracle<i>was</i>the future.<br/><br/>Far too soon father’s arms were replaced by son’s hand.  Charlotte glanced back and offered the tall beautiful man behind her a half-smile before Jarek’s words pulled her eyes back to him.  She nodded as she spoke.  “Kell took good care of me and said I should always come to him if I need something.  He held my hand the whole way here.”  A faint flush colored her cheeks pink as her gaze moved to the floor before lifting her eyes back to her savior.<br/><br/>“A celebration?”  Small hands clasped in front of her as she whirled to first look at the son behind her then the father before her.  “Will John be there?” Delicate fingers fluttered up to touch the spot on her cheek where the warm stamp had been placed a short while ago.  John was steady, his presence in her life simple and easy.  He loved her simply and easily and she loved him for that.  Yet the thought of so many people in one place scared her, the simple thought making her shrink back against the young man behind her.<br/><br/>No, Charlotte.  They love you. Let the light hit your chest.<br/><br/>The urge to curl against the chest of the one she had grown up with was resisted as she stepped away from Kell, out of the orbit of both men as she took careful steps towards one of the bookcases in the rooms.  So many words in this room, wonderful words that would tell her things.  One hand rose, fingers extending to brush against the spine of a leather-bound book.  From top to bottom, the touch light as a feather.  Words had power.  Spoken words whispered in her mind had encouraged her to do the things that tore her away from the world at large.  Spoken words whispered in her ear had fixed her and brought her back to the world.  What could written words tell her?<br/><br/>Those dainty fingers ran down the book once more, the caress like that of a lover.  As she turned back towards the men, a smile formed as her eyes landed on Kell’s briefly.  They slid to Jarek as she took one step back towards her doctor.<br/><br/>Let the light hit your chest.<br/><br/>“Now that I’m here, here where I have always belonged, will you tell me about the event?  What will I do?  Will they still love me?” Charlotte moved past Kell on her way to his father, her eyes only for the older man now.<br/><br/>Hold his hand tighter.<br/><br/>The girl’s hands slipped into the doctor’s as she stood there facing him, captivated by the idea of the event she had heard about for so long, excited now that it was upon her, the moment when she would help the people step into the light of the future.