Abigail Hernandez, 15, of Conway, New Hampshire was kidnapped on Oct. 9, 2013 and returned home mysteriously on Jul. 20. She told her local newspaper, The Conway Daily Sun, “I’m taking it a little at a time but I’m feeling a lot better every day.”

She saw the box published every day in The Conway Daily Sun advertizing her disappearance and it “gave her hope.”

Hernandez was kidnapped sometime after leaving her school, Kennett High School, on Oct. 9. The other circumstances of her kidnapping, including when she was taken or how she got home, have not been made public; however, The Conway Daily Sun claims it has been widely reported she was held in a steel storage container attached to a trailer.

Nathaniel Kibby, 34, from the nearby town of Gorham, has been charged with felony kidnapping of Hernandez.

The first media appearance Abigail made was to The Conway Daily Sun with her mother, Zenya Hernandez, to thank them for publishing her photo every day. Abby said, “Thank you guys, so, so much, I really appreciate it more than I could possibly put in words.”

Zenya confirmed to the newspaper during their visit that police have said releasing details of the case at this time could compromise the ongoing investigation.

Kibby’s arraignment hearing last Tuesday was the first public appearance of Abigail.

Kibby’s next court date is Aug. 12 for a probable cause hearing, where additional charges may be filed against him.

Zenya’s mother also thanked The Conway Daily Sun for publishing the box dedicated to her daughter, though she added it was sad for her “to see the days growing and increasing…. I saw that too and it was hard to see that. At the same time, I knew good people are there, you are good people, and it gave me hope when there was no hope at all.”

When asked if there were anything Abby wants to do now, she said she wanted to go horseback riding.

“I just want to be treated like a normal person,” said Abby.