used to care for these animals at my house to hide it from her husband, Patrick, who is allergic to animal fur and would have been furious if he knew.Marlene had been saving over 71 animals since January, and she was terrified of being judged by others for what she was doing, especially since her actions were already seen as controlling and obsessive,

I was taken aback by her compassion and bravery and promised to support her moving forward. From then on, we worked together, and I came to understand the woman I had always misjudged in a whole new light. Though our relationship would never be perfect, I learned that sometimes the most beautiful truths are hidden in the most unexpected places—even in a pile of laundry.