"I'd change a lot," she replied, then shook her head. "Everyone says what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and that you wouldn't be the person you were unless you'd gone through the things you did and all that crap. I'm pretty sure the people saying that didn't have an alcoholic, abusive mother who kicked them out when they were twelve because her new boyfriend didn't like them."

There. It was said. And now she waited for the pity.