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moan slipped out from my lips. Flashing images filled my mind-strong hands gently running across my skin, a warm mouth whispering sweet words against m
. "What is wrong with me?" I whispered to myself, pulling the shee
what wa
eeping into my voice. "Twenty-three, and I've never even had a kiss. No boyfrie
g as I could remember. My parents always said it was for my own safety, that the world outside was dangerous. Bu
ilence that enveloped me. I froze, my heart racing and pounding
hole in the wall-it was my only way to see the outside world. I found this hole when I was a chil
wo big men loomed over him, their fists hitting him repeatedly with harsh force. Nearby, my mother
-shouldered, wearing a sharp black suit. He was facing away from me, bu
ore time!" My mother's voice was filled w
as if he found it amusing. "He has already had ti
g into the rough wooden frame of the
himpered, curling up in on himself
Five months? The money doesn't come, and yet you keep gambling and creatin
ick landed on his stomach
lutching at the hem of the man's coat,
etly. "Debt is debt. Promises me
and louder. "Okay, fine! You can take anything you want. Actually
nd our house. "Tell me, what do you really have here
ered, her eyes darting around
truth is, you have nothing. Absolute
sewing machine!" she suggested, hopi
s he walked over to the sewing ma
rt. The people with him laughed moc
ther replied, he
time to waste. I want my money, a
, and my heart sank when I
ran through me.
ts own. I grabbed the first thing I could fin
the shoe in the air like it was a wea
out and grabbed my wrist tightly. I stumbled a bit, and my shoe
everything around
iar. In that moment, I saw recognition in his gaze, and