The first thing Aurora became aware of was the ache in her body. It was a dull, all-encompassing pain that radiated from her core and seemed to weigh down every limb. She stirred slightly, her movements sluggish, her eyelids heavy as if they were weighed down by bricks.
“Miss,” a soft voice whispered, pulling her from the haze of unconsciousness. “Miss Aurora… are you awake?”
Aurora’s eyes fluttered open, the morning light filtering through the tall, velvet-draped windows. The room was quiet, almost serene, a sharp contrast to the storm of emotions raging inside her chest.
The ache between her legs brought the memories crashing back, and she flinched, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as her breath hitched.
“It’s okay,” the voice soothed. “You’re safe now.”
Safe? The word felt hollow, meaningless. She turned her head slowly, her vision adjusting to see one of the maids sitting beside her. The young woman’s face was pale, her eyes shadowed with worry and pity.
“You fainted last night,” the maid said gently, wringing her hands together. “We… we brought you here and cleaned you up. He told us to…” Her voice faltered, as if saying his name might summon him.
Aurora swallowed hard, her throat dry and raw. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak. “I… I can’t…”
The maid reached out tentatively, her fingers brushing against Aurora’s shoulder. “It’s alright,” she said. “You don’t have to say anything. Just rest.”
But Aurora couldn’t rest. The weight of what had happened, the humiliation, the pain it pressed down on her, suffocating her. Hot tears spilled from her eyes, and she clutched at the maid’s arm as if it were the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.
“I can’t stay here,” Aurora sobbed, her voice cracking. “I can’t… I can’t do this.”
The maid hesitated for a moment before leaning closer, wrapping her arms around Aurora in a hesitant, protective embrace. “Shh,” she whispered. “Don’t let them hear you.”
Aurora buried her face in the maid’s shoulder, her body shaking with silent cries. “He’ll kill me,” she whispered hoarsely. “I’ll die here.”
The maid’s arms tightened around her, her own tears slipping down her cheeks. “You won’t,” she said fiercely, though her voice trembled. “I won’t let that happen.”
Aurora pulled back slightly, looking into the maid’s tear-streaked face. “Why?” she asked, her voice barely audible. “Why do you care?”
The maid blinked, surprised by the question. “Because… because I’ve been where you are,” she admitted, her voice breaking. “I know what it’s like to feel powerless, to feel like you’re nothing. But you’re not nothing, Aurora. You’re strong. You survived last night, and you’ll survive today, too.”
Her words struck something deep within Aurora, a fragile spark of hope amidst the despair. But the ache in her body was a cruel reminder of her reality, and she shook her head, tears falling down. “I’m not strong,” she whispered. “I couldn’t even fight him. I couldn’t stop him.”
“You did fight,” the maid said firmly, cupping Aurora’s face in her hands. “You’re still fighting. Every breath you take is a rebellion against him, against everything he stands for. Don’t let him take that from you.”
Aurora closed her eyes, her chest heaving with quiet sobs. “I don’t know how to keep going,” she admitted.
The maid hesitated, her own fear evident in the way her hands trembled. “One step at a time,” she said softly. “That’s all you can do. Just… survive. Promise me you’ll try.”
Aurora looked at her, her eyes red and swollen but filled with a glimmer of determination. “I’ll try,” she whispered.
The maid nodded, wiping her own tears away. “Good. Now, let me get you some water. You need to rest. You’ll feel stronger after you’ve had something to drink.”
Aurora watched as the maid stood and moved toward the small table in the corner of the room, pouring a glass of water with shaking hands. For the first time since waking up, Aurora allowed herself to take a deep breath.
She didn’t know how she would survive this place, or him. But the maid’s words had planted a tiny seed of hope in her heart. And as fragile as it was, it was enough to keep her going at least for now.