len

out, Helena," he said,

he mean b

I asked, trying to step out of the r

ent. "If you're going to come out, you better be in your mas

I wasn't dreaming. Reality stru

ashed back, and I recalled th

mber anything? And my voi

he floor, my face buried in my arms.

ing just outside the door, his back to me, but I could hear the sh

I asked, my voice soft but steady, st

ho you are," he said bitterl

racked before I could stop it. "What h

was si

aid. "Whatever happened last night..if anything

he door. "I didn't force you,

You should've known better. I don'

ace

ed deeper than

ur bed, or just the ones you claim

dn't

at sil

e more than an

the maid I shoul

silence. Then his vo

u hear

espond. Ju

d bitter. "Your pr

rt cle

h disgust. "You rubbed yourself all over my space like you

lowed

at wa

ilt. N

dis

fingers fumbled for the mask and pulled it over my face, tight

Mortina was r

ally was t

ant

ist

nd me. My legs gave way, and I dro

ve known be

o be seen. You were ne

ll-in, the shadow of

ood up slowly, my legs trembling beneath me. I made my way to the bathroom

a stranger. Puffy e

ou kiddin

it out, one thing I had barely touched for a long

hing Lauren had begged me to thr

I di

like it had bee

It was barely the size of a fingernail, b

ough I wasn't sure who I was apologizing to,

my fingers. Just one, I told myself. Just enough to sleep t

d didn't s

then

idn't car

s tired of

k to my throat, and I leaned back, starin

seconds. Time blurred.

h

ick and sudden. My vision blurry, col

the sink, knocking over the toot

sed to t

d focus on was the burn spreading through my ch

e floor, searching for someth

re was

sil

pa