mirror, not even acknowledging their expressions. I knew if I looked at them, I

lders sagging with the weight I had been carrying all morning. My head dropped into my hands, and I felt my lip start to tremble a

n't cry

to

t to be my mo

I picked up a cotton bud and carefully cleaned the almost-fallen tears from the corners of my

r you

eathing i

t the ne

d my eyes dulled into a manageable ache. I blocked out all the thoughts clawing at my sanity-the memories

't about

about the

out me and

into his world, and I wasn't

he was doing to her. Knowing that somewhere, hidden behind the walls

whipped my robe off my body. The silk fell like a whisper to the floor as I made my way to the rack where

the right places and flowed down to my knees. I paired it with my nude peep-toe, six-inch

and swell. I tilted my head slightly to one side, studying myself with critical eyes. I could feel ever

, cherishing every inch like it was the last thing he would ever get to touch. I

just another

I told mysel

turned on my heel to leave the dressing room. As soon as I cr

rking orders, checking lighting, straightening backdrops, adjusting cameras. Eve

n wrapped around my chest as I struggled to keep my breathing steady. P

me down the hallway. I wasn't even sure where I was going

surface. I looked around, hoping no one noticed, but the

time, desperate for him-for the man wh

d my ear to the door, shutt

s when I

ght

his-but

f laughter that made your sides hurt and your eyes tear up. The kind of laug

orced. It w

as p

as r

wasn't

he door as the weight of reality crushed me. I knocked once more, a pathetic,

ea

ust open

still l

e was no

ore la

hat I had be

elf. Why I kept coming back for more, knowin

was the w

able

lowe

arving pieces of my soul aw

ng of fresh tears. I couldn't fall apart h

til I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. I flinc

sually against the wall, was a

hing. He di

beat, took it from him with trembling fingers. I dab

eady, giving me the space to g

ike forever, I realized it wasn't the

t under

offering

not all was l