Judith

- VANESSA -

Once the door closes, I lean against it and look at the room that has felt mostly like a nightmare for the past three days. I'm going to have to be strong—something I can do as long as Ivan stays away from me. 

I have to be strong and survive this for my family. I owe them that, because ending up in this situation is just as much my fault for being stupid and rebellious as it is anyone else's. 

My bedroom door doesn't have a lock on the inside, something that makes me very uncomfortable. How am I going to sleep knowing anyone could just walk in? But at least the locks on the outside aren't keeping me from getting out now. I'm free to walk around the house. And the bathroom has a lock, thankfully. 

I shed the blanket, and the same creeping feeling slithers under my skin when there's only this satin against it. Because I didn't choose these pajamas, and I didn't put them on myself.