o

the front gate, the sun was already dipping low behind the

and gathered my books, brushi

tly, filling the courtyard with a s

hing...wa

around,

tied out after the afternoon classes ended - but I could

k of your neck, light and persistent, no matter

was ju

r reminder that my lif

ng between the benches and trees as I made my w

ave seen t

ld hav

ltures - were leaning casually against the ston

t it was obvious they

called out, her voice sha

t wal

hat if you didn't give them any

reactions - tea

them

n't mean the

another girl sneered,

orgot to buy y

ed but di

ven look

ed in from my left

dyguard. Must be nice to have someo

n't know

re

y knew

o twist

g, Sofia, I

almos

r came into view

er side door, arms crossed,

ble wall between

oached the gate, their laught

open the car door and I slid inside, sinking i

't say

n't ha

e saw ev

pulled away from the curb, t

sea of faces and footsteps -

that thought would

ed under my skin like a s

was imag

was ju

may

omed to inherit was about to become far

ront of me like a stone giant

ramed the massi

d the drive in rigid,

af out o

flaw i

g else in my f

my skirt automatically, and climbed the

tayed by

lway

visible line between

't bla

rossed l

ilence - the kind that weighed on

ng her eyes and headed toward the dining room, w

't a meal i

s an

ght, wit

e hosted a small army stretc

eamed under the chandel

med like a row

osture rigid, dressed in a dark suit even

folded neatly in her lap, a smile frozen

olded my hands just as neatly, pretending not t

poke rig

..strategic in th

r ca

er

ed wine into my

into

ait

father clear

benefit this Friday," he said, a

will esc

in my lap, the only s

rebellion

day night," I said,

s face before smoothing out agai

e it," he

diamond earrings catching

licate arrangement of roasted vegeta

n't a

ever

my life was

pecta

sed doors, without my vo

ago wasn't a

even a m

was con

li

a

y father would hand me ov

po

le

pr

immered in my chest

, obedient daughter'

derst

ersation

k pr

ical

that mattered in

lo

dr

t

ly, every bite t

rlier still lingered - a whisper of unseen eyes, a pr

t know

y caged existence, was a

walls final

ld be no