She gestures for me to turn.
I slowly turn in a circle, wishing the earth would open up and swallow me whole. I'm terrified because I know that the day is only going to get worse.
I keep hoping someone will save me from this, but I know I'm on my own here.
"Can I go to the bathroom?" I ask, keeping my gaze lowered.
"Of course, we're not animals," she replies.
I reach for my discarded nightgown and pull it back on. As I head toward the bathroom at the far end of the room, I notice that I'm being followed.
It's one of the girls in the linen dresses.
There's a pit in my stomach. I can't even have privacy when I go to the bathroom now.
I make myself take deep breaths to remain calm. The ceiling lights flicker to life as I step inside.
"Please leave the door open," the girl whispers, stopping at the threshold.
I grip the polished stone countertop and stare at myself in the mirror. I look so pale and tired, like I'm barely holding on to life.
“I don’t know how it came to this,” I say out loud. “My mother has done some terrible things, but selling her own daughter at an auction is definitely in the top three."
The girl's eyes are downcast. She doesn't give any indication that she heard me.
I turn to look at her.
"Is she holding you captive, too?" I whisper.
Her eyes flick to mine for a second, but she quickly looks back down.
"You're not allowed to speak to me?" I ask.
She doesn't lift her eyes.
My heart squeezes in my chest. The girl looks so young. I wonder how long she's been exploited by people like my mother and Mrs. V. Because that's what they do. They prey on the weak.
And there's nothing I can do to change that.
I splash water on my face and stare at myself. I know there's strength deep inside me, but some days, it's really hard to find.
Some days, all I hear is my mother's voice in my head.
Telling me how I'm not pretty like Briar. Telling me that I'm too big. Telling me I'm not enough.
But during my time in the outside world, I learned that I'm not as revolting as my mother described me.
I was so close.
So close to having everything I ever wanted.
"No guts, no glory," I whisper to myself.
Nobody is coming to save me. I need to remember that. I need to fight even when everything feels pointless.
"I tried to run before," the girl whispers.
I turn toward her. She's still looking at the floor.
