"I'm starting to realize just what's happened to me." Stephanie replied. "I'm not feeling good at all. I feel like a puppet, like a pawn. And I never, ever, want to be used like this again, by anyone."

Stephanie was currently holding a fragile equilibrium between deep self-loathing and rage.

"I know I can't do what needs to be done right now. I'm not strong enough. And that's a very hard thing for me to admit. I like to help other people. I don't like accepting help, but I need it. Desperately." She managed to hold Rachel's gaze while saying all of this.