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This poignant memoir traces the arduous path of a young man emerging from a childhood of extreme isolation, sensory overload, and manipulative control. Having spent years navigating a world where basic needs were used as leverage, he discovers the clarity of his late-diagnosed autism, allowing him to finally understand the 'edges of the cage' that defined his early life. As he moves into adulthood and a supportive partnership, he must confront the haunting echoes of his past, including a period of reactive anger and the influence of toxic online communities. His journey is a raw, unflinching exploration of accountability, the physical habits of trauma, and the painstaking work of rebuilding a life rooted in honesty and neurodivergent self-acceptance. It is a story of finding the safety to exist without bracing for the next blow.