19

[REBECCA]
Lynda gasped in surprise, her eyes widening. “Oh my God, Becca. I completely lost track of time. I’m so sorry. You were supposed to rest.” She hurriedly stood up and wiped the countertop clean, a touch of guilt evident on her face.
I reassured her with a smile. “It’s alright. I had a great time talking to you.”
She shook her head, a hint of playful exasperation in her eyes. “Still, you need to go rest now, or Mom will never let me hear the end of it.” She rolled her eyes dramatically, emphasizing the point.
“Well, you do have a point,” I chuckled, pulling her into a quick hug. In response, she playfully nudged me towards the door. “Go on, go rest.”
Making my way to the bedroom, I closed the door softly behind me. Tiredness washed over me, and without bothering to change out of my dress, I eagerly climbed into bed, nestling myself under the cozy, warm comforter. The day’s activities had taken their toll, and now that I was finally lying down, my body felt heavy and lethargic. Letting out a contented sigh, I turned towards the window, the curtains drawn back, granting me a perfect view of the setting sun.
I watched in awe as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with vibrant hues of red, orange, and a touch of light purple. The breathtaking beauty of the sunset left me momentarily breathless, and I couldn’t help but imagine capturing the scene on a canvas, blending the captivating colors into a serene and tranquil landscape.
As darkness gradually enveloped the sky, my eyelids grew heavy, and I couldn’t resist the urge to yawn and blink sleepily. I surrendered to the comforting embrace of fatigue, my surroundings fading away.
***
“Shhhh. Stay quiet,” he growled harshly, clamping his hand over my mouth as I struggled against his grip. Panic coursed through me as I desperately tried to scream, only to find my voice silenced. I fought with every ounce of strength, but his hold was unyielding. No, please, no.
His hand trailed down my bare legs, inching my nightshirt higher. With his knees, he forced my legs apart, settling himself between my trembling thighs. Tears streamed down my face as I continued to struggle, but it was futile. When his hand reached my underwear, he callously tore it aside, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.
“You belong to me! Mine! It’s time I claimed what’s rightfully mine,” he spat angrily, his words dripping with malice. I could hear the sound of his zipper being undone, and I desperately tried to bring my legs together, but his weight pinned me down, preventing any escape.
His hand clamped tightly over my mouth, silencing any attempt to scream. He hovered above me, his presence unsettling, and I could sense his proximity to my most vulnerable place. Panic surged within me, desperate to escape my constricted throat.
“It’ll be over soon, love,” he murmured against my neck, his wet kisses leaving marks of brutality. Teeth sank into my flesh, and the pain seared through me, immobilizing my resistance. As I grew limp, he chuckled menacingly in my ears, the sound fueling the unimaginable fear that engulfed me. It wasn’t just a feeling; it permeated the air, suffocating my senses. My racing heart threatened to burst from my chest while hot tears streamed down my cheeks.
And then, the piercing intrusion shattered my heart into innumerable fragments. Agony consumed me, a torrent of pain that eclipsed everything else. It was as if I bled internally, while my skin burned and my body convulsed uncontrollably. Each moment was a symphony of torment. I screamed, muffled by his hand, only to discover that I was paralyzed, trapped in a horrifying stillness.
As he delved deeper inside me, he growled with a possessive satisfaction. “You’re so tight. Made for me. I own you.” His labored breaths resonated in my ears, drowning out all other sound. The pain was unbearable, an all-encompassing ache that gripped my body, my mind, and my very soul.
When he ceased his movements, I felt nothing. Numbness enveloped me, my body an empty vessel, crippled by pain and fear. Withdrawing from within, he removed his hand and braced himself on the mattress, leaning over me with a twisted smile.
“Happy sweet sixteen, love.”
That smile etched itself into my memory, an indelible mark that would haunt me forever.
I jolted awake, a scream caught in my throat, my body drenched in perspiration. Each breath came in ragged gasps as my heart pounded relentlessly against my ribs. The veins in my neck throbbed, and my head throbbed in tandem.
The heat suffocated me, an overwhelming sensation that made me feel like I was on fire, and my body trembled violently in silent convulsions. I struggled to draw in air, my surroundings spinning in a disorienting blur. A piercing, stinging noise filled my ears, gradually muting the world around me.
***
“It was just a nightmare, Becca. Just a nightmare,” I repeated to myself, desperate for solace. But deep down, I knew it was more than a mere nightmare.
It was my reality. My truth.
A flood of images overwhelmed my mind, crashing together in a chaotic montage, and I crumpled to the floor, my knees giving way under the weight of it all. It was too much to bear. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping to shield myself from the torrent of agony coursing through my veins.
Pressing my face into trembling hands, I wept. The pressure in my chest mounted, and my stomach churned with nausea. Within me, there was only emptiness.
Tears streamed down my face, an endless torrent that threatened to suffocate me. Overwhelmed, my body convulsed and I doubled over, dry-heaving. Collapsing onto the floor, I curled into a tight ball, my sobs unabated.
I had thought I could escape my past, but it clung to me like a haunting specter. Even though I had broken free from Raffaele’s clutches, his influence still held me captive.
Just once, I longed to live without the constant grip of fear. I yearned for true freedom, even if it was only for a fleeting moment.
The urge to scream and unleash my fury at the cruel hand life had dealt me consumed me. But I remained silent, my voice unable to break free.
I had hoped to forget, foolishly believing that happiness was within my grasp. But reality, relentless and unforgiving, always caught up with me in the end.
Exhaustion swept over me, transforming my weeping into irregular gasps for air. As I opened my burning eyes, they fell upon Artemy’s suit jacket draped over the sofa chair.
Driven by an instinct I couldn’t comprehend, I crawled toward the sofa and reached out for the jacket. Pressing it against my face, I let my tears flow silently into the fabric.
Gradually, as my tears subsided and my hiccups ceased, I slumped against the sofa and took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the familiar scent of Artemy’s cologne. I felt myself relax.
I didn’t understand why or how, but his scent had a calming effect on me. As I inhaled the aroma lingering on his jacket, I could almost sense his presence. And that alone was enough to restore my sense of security.
All I yearned for was peace, if only for a brief respite, and somehow, I had found it. I didn’t question it, nor did I want to. I simply accepted it.
Stretching out on the floor next to the sofa, I curled into a ball, holding Artemy’s jacket close to my chest, my face buried in its comforting embrace.
And that was how I drifted back to sleep, enveloped in tranquility. This time, my slumber was untouched by nightmares and the menacing grin of Raffaele.
In that moment, all I felt was an overwhelming sense of peace.