the selection

Chapter 20-Presentation

It was two days before the presentation was supposed to take place. I had already gotten my pictures for my slideshow showing others of the physical scars and marks of that of physical abuse survivors. I was still making my speech, trying to figure out the right words to say, we had only thirty minutes to do our speech, though when Hadley had told America and Maxon of my project idea, they allowed me to go over. Thank god, cause I don't think I would be able to fit my story in under thirty minutes. I would be the last to go, so I would get the most time. I kept rewriting my speech, trying to find the right words for things to say. My beginning, which I had rewrote about twelve times. I had noted the things I knew I wanted to talk about, emotional abuse, emotional manipulation, physical abuse, rape, taking someone's virginity, talking about the long term issues of it-such as trust issues, self harm, closing off, not knowing if you should fall in love again. I'm starting to get nervous, I haven't told anyone about what my presentation is about, because I wanted it to be a surprise. It will be a big surprise no doubt considering this is a topic most are uncomfortable with. I haven't told anyone, so my nerves are really starting to be there. Did I make the right choice, is my presentation going to get a lot of hate, will others hate me for it, will it be really controversial. Well America's presentation of wanting to eliminate the caste was a huge deal back then, and well she is slowly getting rid of them. Mine will definitely make waves, I guess I'm following in her footsteps of shedding light to those who need it. 

time jump to the time of the report

There is about now three hours before the report. My nerves are really there, my maids know of my topic and are well doing the best they can to calm my nerves down. I am practicing my speech for the presentation and I am nervous is a huge understatement. My maids have made a bath for me to relax in, they gave me my current book and snatched my cards away from me. So I read my book and stopped worrying about my speech and how it's definitely going to make waves. About an hour and a half in my bath, my maids dragged me out of the bath, put a fluffy robe on me as I started getting ready for the presentation. My hair was styled in a waterfall braid with navy and white flowers, my makeup was simple, it consisted of mascara, eyeliner, bronzer, some navy and tan eyeshadow, a bit of blush, and lipgloss. When I was done, I closed my eyes and my maids brought out my dress. It was a beautiful strapless ombre navy to white dress. I was given navy flats so that I could actually stand and talk.

                                                 Cypress' dress

Once I was deemed done, I met up with Nixie and Harper. All three of us have kind of become friends since there are now only three of us left in the competition. Nixie was in a dusty pink off the shoulder dress with flowers on the waistband. Harper was in a purple dress with pink and white flowers and a purple waistband.