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I became a caged animal, shutting myself off from the world.
I hallucinated Dad,his face shadowed,red eyes glowing,lurking under my bed,staring.
I curled in a corner,trembling,begging,“Dad,I’m sorry,please don’t hurt me.”
The torment pushed me to the brink.
In my weakest moment,Lucas held me,his face in shadow,voice honeyed.“Lily,please me,and you’ll escape pain,find happiness.”
His touch was burning hot,his breath intense,but his words cut:“You filthy trash,who else would hold you but me?”
I sobbed,wanting to protest,but he was right—no one loved me.
I’d been abandoned by everyone.
Lucas became my world.Without him,I’d panic,unravel.
Classmates mocked me as a spineless follower.
Girls crushing on Lucas cornered me in the bathroom,pulling my hair,forcing me to drink mop water,laughing that a toad like me belonged in a sewer.
I fought,but they stripped me.
The humiliation was overwhelming.
I don’t know how I ended up on the rooftop.
The crowd’s stares and jeers faded.
Bare-chested,I stood at the edge,the wind howling,feeling like a kite about to soar.
The world spun.I stepped forward.
“Hey!”
I turned around,dazed.A handsome boy stood there,shocked,staring at me.
Our eyes met.
His pale face flushed,and he averted his gaze,shyly saying,“Um,aren’t you cold?”
“I’m kinda hot.Want my jacket?”
He edged closer,hesitating.“I know you’re in a hurry,but wait just a second…”
He took off his shirt,revealing a lean,pale waist.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
“Whoops!”He tripped,crashing down,groaning but holding the shirt up.“Didn’t get it dirty.”
So clumsy.
Blood beaded on his scraped skin.I knelt,staring at his wound.
He blushed,ears red.“Maybe put the shirt on?”His voice was soft,eyes closed,lashes trembling.
“No,”I said,gripping the shirt,my knuckles white.“I won’t.”
Tears fell,soaking the ground.
