. But no one ever warns you how deep it cuts when it comes from someone who knows

d to be back on

rumbled like an angry god, and everyone just wanted

with my cousin, Faith, but halfway through

things-

y's departmental quiz, and Dr. Andrews was no

udent for submitting a p

jumped into the next availab

barely noticed the wind tuggin

n umbrella I he

d-but determined to grab my

ad never t

t. The power company had struck again. I s

r was quiet

ange-our room door was sligh

she just stepped out to fetch w

A chill unrelated to the

was inside

yb

hed g

hearing. The thick curtains muffled

an

eathless. Soft at

fr

om the next room. But no, our walls were soli

heard m

ted. Not

ck

et him kiss her pro

t v

ili

My bes

the door

ct moment-dramatic, cruel, ci

my

backup battery, casting just en

like a scene f

ers, her skirt, my blanket t

er back arched. Her hands clutched hi

d

so

ho held my hand during vigil. Th

e boy who called me h

her neck. His han

n he lo

saw

sto

something between guilt and

n't ev

... con

dropped fr

cream. I didn't shout. I just turned aro

e was ch

n't care. The rain pelted my face like slaps, soaking

p gasps. I didn't know where

culty

. Tha

o see me

come. At first, it was silent. Then it turned into shaking sobs. Then

o

ould

it during exam week. My ATM card when hers got swallowed. My secre

Ja

ual goals. Talked about our wedding. I said no to him so man

ieved

t he und

im by saving my virginity. That

meaning. About preser

hing

that. I clutched my chest. It hurt. Physically.

whisper

e my

u're the

just let him touch

hadn't forme

face in my s

l wasn't ju

about i

... everything I believed

hat purity

rtb

liat

was freezing. My dress clung t

ld. But the ache

ing before

. Some girls were passing by t

he virgi

ept well her room

I didn't hear. But e

m, it was empty. Stell

ll of betray

elled like cheap perfume. A half-drunk bottle of coke

Then slowly, I grabbe

a mad

g could erase

y crumbs could du

didn't pick calls. Didn't respond to texts. I stayed

night-I h

ge, viv

nt. My hands glowed. My feet d

espect. A crown hovered just above my

d me... som

wling. Se

for me. Tou

y-everything

ed. The ground beneath me cracked. I fel

loss. F

had been taken that I

. Ancient. Strong. E

ven know wha

sping. Cover

ding like

't make

hing insi

t just a h

red had been

the firs

n to w

ginity wasn't

it was p