Sixty

Iris

I smiled, jumped to my feet, and rushed over to Natalia. We hugged tightly, enjoying the warmth of each other's company.

"Oh, Natalia, you are like a breath of fresh air. Having you visit me is always therapeutic."

She smiled, reached into her bag and pulled out a stylish new phone.

"I got this for you. You need to stay in touch in case Adonis prevents me from coming here. We also need to start planning your escape."

My hand paused midway, and the thought of leaving made my heart ache. As stupid as it sounded, I couldn't bear the thought of staying away from Adonis.

Was I crazy? Maybe.

Despite the pain and confinement, a part of me knew I couldn't live without Adonis' touch, kisses, and even the degrading sex he exposed me to.

He could have killed me, but instead he kept me alive and cared for me in his own twisted way. Was there even a real reason for me to leave?

I loved him, no matter how toxic it sounded. Stockholm syndrome was kicking in. Leaving meant abandoning the hope