In her first public speech since her crushing defeat to Donald Trump last week, an emotional Hillary Clinton admitted the loss has been extremely difficult for her.
"I will admit, coming here tonight wasn't the easiest thing for me," Clinton said at the Children's Defense Fund's "Beat The Odds" Gala on Wednesday night. "There have been a few times this past week where all I wanted to do was curl up with a good book and our dogs and never leave the house again."
Clinton also reflected on her mother, Dorothy Rodham, who had been abandoned as a child, and the impact she had on her life.
"I dream of going up to her, and sitting next to her and taking her in my arms and saying, 'Look, look at me and listen. You will survive. You will have a family of your own: three children,'" Clinton said, choking up. "And as hard as it might be to imagine, your daughter will grow up to be a United States senator, represent our country as secretary of state, and win more than 62 million votes for president of the United States."
Clinton also pledged to stay in the fight as we head into a Trump administration.
"We have work to do, and for the sake of our children and our families and our country, I ask you to stay engaged, stay engaged on every level," Clinton said. "We need you. America needs you, your energy, your ambition, your talent. That is how we get through this."