What is pain to you? What would it be like to you- in your mind- to never be able to talk again? To never eat again? To live, wondering constantly, what it would have been like if you just hadn't walked around that corner into a fight that would change your life forever.

Andrew Natana had been sixteen years old when he happened to walk into a gang fight that was happening in a bad part of his hometown of New Hampton. How he didn't realize what was happening, he couldn't tell you now or back then.

He was bowled over by a boy of thirteen that was running away from a gang of older boys chasing him. Seeing Andrew, and thinking he was possibly part of the other group, the gang of boys managed to get a hold of him.

Despite hw much he struggled, Andrew could not get away from them. The boy was not exactly a weakling. At sixteen, he already stood near six feet and had begun developing the broad shoulders and strong upper body. He managed to get in a few good hits, but the gang of boys pinned him down.

A young man named Miguel straddled Nathan, and several boys forced open the trapped boy's mouth. Andrew tried to shout, but Miguel had gotten a hold of his tongue. Soon, Andrew felt blood gushing into his mouth, and felt as though he was about to black out...but not before Miguel showed him what he had done...

Nathan had no tongue.

The gang of boys buried Andrew under a pile of garbage and ran off just as the police were driving up. Andrew blacked out, waiting to die.

Yet, days later, he found himself in a small hospital room. He had lived. But how? Did it matter? To him, at that moment, it didn't. He was alive, and to him, it was a miracle.

"You are quite lucky that some of the best doctors were available to save you, Andrew," came a quiet, thickly accented female voice.

His eyes snapped around the room, trying to see who was there. Then, he tried saying soemthing to only find that he couldn't...

"The boys who injured you cut out your tongue, Andrew," her voice came again. "You wont ever be able to speak again. Eat. Swallow..."

The boy's eyes filled with tears. He was too stunned to be angry.

Then, she stepped out of the shadows. A beautiful woman dressed in a sharp charcoal dress suit. Her hair was raven black and complimented her Mediterranean appearance. Startling hazel eyes with golden flecks. She wore barely any make-up, but she needn't wear any at all. Luscious ruby lips were in a sad, concerned smile.

She was being brutally honest, but at this point in the boy's life, he needed no lies.

"Your parents believe you to be dead due to the fight," she continued as she sat on his hospital bed. "But they are being taken care of and looked after. So....oh, please, don't cry, Andrew..."

But the tears had already begun to flow. The boy never cried. He had always believed in being tough, and to never show feeling, but...this...this was too much for anyone to bear. He felt her hands gently wipe away his tears with a silk kerchief. Then, she was hugging him. The tears were silent.

She whispered, "I will do all I can to make sure you have a full life, Andrew. Unfortunately, I cannot give you back your voice, but I can help you live."

She drew back. Her hazel eyes looking at him with compassion.

"My name is Ava Detourne, and from now on, I will look after you, and help you become what you've never dreamed of..."

The years passed. Andrew grew into a brilliant and handsome man. Ava gave him the finest teachers and doctors to help him learn to talk without his voice. He was able to eat, but very minimal. His nutrition came in different forms. He was taught several trades. Eventually, he took residency in Ava's home. His love and loyalty to her nearly out did Damian's.

Andrew became her body guard and her fall back. He was there when she needed him, and he was there when most least unexpected it.