起初，妈妈来看过我几次，可是每次时间都很短而且十分紧张，因为列奥纳多夫人在旁监看着。 “一定要按他们说的做，”我们一起坐在卧室的时候妈妈小声对我说，“答应妈妈不要哭。要记住我们彼此相爱。你是我唯一的孩子。”

    "And you're my only mom," I would whisper back, sealing the pact. She'd kiss me softly on the head and depart. I never knew when I'd see her again.

    这时我也会小声说，(不理会合约)“你是我唯一的妈妈。”她会在我额头上轻轻地吻一下，就走了。我从不知道什么时候能再见到她。

    I became braver at school as time passed. During morning recess, I no longer hid in the bathroom but lingered in the school library. If a teacher let me, I stayed inside my classroom to read or do extra work. I never mentioned the Leonards or my mother to other kids if I could help it; I was ashamed of my needy circumstances. With my secrets carefully secured, school gradually became a haven.

    时间慢慢过去 ......