Chapter 28

ARIA

My head rolled to a side, my eyes fell on the dark sky staring back at me. I looked up at the stars gazing back at me.

“You told me to fight, Dad.” I whispered out loud, “You said if I gave up, the world would crush me.”

I thought I had no more tears left but I was wrong. It was always tearful when I talked to my father.

“I fought like you told me to.” I could feel the sob forming in my raw throat. “You said if I fought, I would succeed.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

“Why didn’t you tell me that fighting brings pain?” I questioned, looking at the stars through my teary vision, “Look what I get every time I fight.”

“I get raped.”

The sob bubbled out of me, echoing in the silent night.

“You fed me lies.” I accused, “You fed me lies.”

My body shook with violent sobs, I closed my eyes, praying that they would never open again.

***

I woke up surrounded by darkness.

My body ached, every part of it.

I was very much alive, breathing and living.

I looked around me, trying to look beyond t