Andrea Gunning

This was something I needed to hear, and I imagine some listeners out there need to hear it too.

Bravery isn't always about pursuing criminal action.

I had to understand that after what happened to me, keeping my grades up, graduating, and just getting on with my life was the bravest version of myself.

And today, that form of bravery is what Saskia is practicing too.

These days, for Saskia, bravery looks like getting out of bed and starting her day.

Feeding her pets, going to work, taking a walk.

Nowadays, she's not only back to a normal routine, she's creating that routine for herself for the first time in her adult life.

Before everything happened, everyone thought Saskia needed someone like Mike to save her.

But there's a flip side to all this growth.

It's not just that Saskia is taking time for herself.

Saskia has her kids, but they're older now.

And most of the time, they're out of the house or with their dad.

She works from home and stays there through the evening with her pets to keep her company.

Since finding out about Mike's crimes, her world's gotten a lot smaller.

But by putting up these walls, she's not only protecting herself against bad people, she's isolating herself from friends and family.

Here's Marisa again.

When my reporting team and I went to Maryland to meet Saskia, we noticed those walls too.

We'd spent months talking to her in advance, explaining the production process and what to expect.

She was fully on board.

In all of her interviews, she was open.