“I’ll bring you some ice for that,” I said, nodding toward her ankle.
She looked at me, giving me a slight nod, before I turned and walked toward the door. I slipped the key from my pocket and into the lock, hearing a loud click as it popped free. I glanced over my shoulder to see Lila still lying on the bed, her eyes watching my every move.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For… the… wrap thingy.”
I nodded and left the room, the door closing with a loud bang behind me.
Ilaidonthebed staring up at the ceiling, the pounding of my heart making it hard to breathe. The fear I felt earlier in the woods had vanished, replaced by something dark and dangerous. I closed my eyes as I tried to push it away and pulled the pillow closer to my chest.
My mind wandered back to what Jason had said and the way it felt to have him so close to me.
‘Be a good girl for me.’
My body involuntarily shuddered when I felt his cock pressing against my thigh. A heat spread through my core at the memory, flooding me with so many emotions I couldn’t comprehend.
Minutes passed before I sat up, finally taking in my surroundings. The dresser was filled with photos of me and Casey, some from our childhood, others more recent. Next to the bed was a nightstand, and a large vase filled with my favorite flowers sat on top of it. My journal sat beside it, and my heart stilled at the thought of him reading it.
I’d kept a journal throughout my teen years and into adulthood. Despite having Casey, there were some things I could never tell her. Having a journal was like having a best friend that didn’t give advice but just listened. I thumbed through it, not sure what I thought I might find, when realization hit me.
He had to have been in my apartment. And I wasn't sure if that terrified me or… excited me.
I swallowed down the growing lump in my throat and stood from the bed. My ankle popped as I put my full weight against the hardwood floor, pain shooting from the tip of my toes to my inner thigh. I pulled my foot up and hopped on one leg, using the wall to steady myself.
When I finally stepped into the bathroom, my mouth dropped open in awe. There was a large shower on the right, big enough to fit at least ten people. The walls were made of glass, a wooden bench sat toward the back, and showerheads resembling sprinklers lined the ceiling. To my right was a large garden bathtub, with candles and flowers along the edges. The porcelain gleamed under the fluorescent lights, and a smile spread across my lips as I took it all in. My eyes lit up as I hobbled toward it and ran my fingers along its cold edges.
I’d always dreamed of having a garden tub, one I could submerge myself in fully. Most of the bathtubs I’d used were cramped, my knees bent at odd angles, and the cold air that seemed only to appear when I decided to take a bath made it less than ideal.
Against the back wall was a sink with an antique mirror hanging overhead. I saw my reflection for the first time in who knows how long and grimaced at the sight. My hair was disheveled and tangled with dirt caked onto my cheeks and forehead. Dark circles sat under my eyes, the stress of the last few days evident. My clothes were covered in mud and dead leaves, and the sleeves of my shirt were torn from getting caught in branches.
Next to the bathtub sat a cabinet, and I hobbled my way over, opening it to reveal shelves lined with towels and washcloths. I plucked one of each from the top and closed the cabinet, placing them on the edge of the bathtub. Leaning down, I turned on the water, steam rising to meet my face.
Candles lined each corner of the bathtub with their wicks trimmed but untouched. I searched the cabinets and drawers before finally finding a lighter, lighting three of the six candles. The smell of lavender, strawberry, and vanilla spilled into the air, and I took a deep breath, inhaling their scent into my lungs. My hands fought to get my pants undone, the cold still lingering deep in my bones. I finally got them undone, throwing them off to the side, and did the same with my shirt and bra.
My heart sank as I turned, seeing myself in the mirror. My stomach was squishy and round, and my hips were broad, giving my body an hourglass shape. The thickness of my thighs made me feel sick as I glanced down, a grimace forming on my face. I quickly looked away, tears filling my eyes at the sight of my body.
I’d always been self-conscious, ever since I was a young child. My mother had always made sure to comment on it, claiming I couldn’t have possibly been hers because she was petite. A memory I’d tried hard to push to the deepest recesses of my mind floated to the surface as I sank into the bathtub, submerging my body in the steaming water.
My mother was sitting across from me, her plate of food barely touched. She pushed her broccoli around with her fork before pushing it away with a huff. I leaned forward, grabbing another helping of broccoli and mashed potatoes, and my mother’s face turned up in disgust.
“What?” I asked, annoyed at her reaction.
“Nothing,” she scoffed.
I dropped my plate on the table, a few pieces of broccoli rolling off onto the floor.
“Then why did you make that face?”
She grabbed her glass of wine and chugged it down, her eyes never leaving mine.
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” she said, slamming her glass down on the table. “You’ve gained a lot of weight over the last few months. You've been eating nonstop.”
I cocked my head to the side and glared at her, the contempt she felt for me written all over her face.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” she said, standing from the table. “Look at you, Lila. It’s embarrassing being seen with you!”
She grabbed the dishes off the table, throwing them in the kitchen sink before turning back to me, her eyes heavy with sleep.
