She flings herself at me, and I hug her back, as if I could shield her with my body from the pain that comes from inside her mind. "It's all right," I murmur, cradling her head on my shoulder. "It's all right, Alice. You're safe here." I smooth back her hair, gentle over the place where her head hit the ground, but still holding tight with my arms around her shoulder. "I won't let her hurt you either. I promise. Not if there's anything I can do about it. You're safe. You're safe." I say it over and over, as if saying it more could make it more true.