"God loves you but not enough to save you,"
In the small town near Austin, Texas, Nora Gibson is trapped in a life of rigid expectations and silent suffering.
As the preacher's daughter, she endure the mental and physical abuse of her father while...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
***
The night when Jamie took Nora's virginity by force felt like the moment the light within her was extinguished. It was as if the divine spark that once illuminated her soul was snuffed out, leaving behind a darkness that clung to her like a second skin.
The purity she had cherished as a good Christian girl was shattered, and in its place, she felt an overwhelming sense of dirtiness. It was as if Nora had been marked, branded with an invisible scarlet letter that only her could see, yet she believed everyone else could see it too.
The past two months had been a relentless descent into a personal hell. Nora had become a ghost of her former self, her once vibrant spirit now a flickering ember. Physically, She was a shadow, her body wasting away as if your soul's torment had seeped into your flesh.
The weight of her violation bore down on her, leaving Nora with no desire to eat, to engage, to exist. Every day was a struggle against the ever-present feeling of disgust, the conviction that she was tainted beyond redemption.
In the eyes of others, She felt exposed, as if the sin of that night was etched into her very being. It was as if the words "dirty slut" were emblazoned across her skin, a silent condemnation that followed her everywhere.
No matter where She went, the eyes of judgment seemed to follow, their silent accusations piercing her already wounded soul.
At school, Nora had withdrawn into herself, a stark contrast to the lively girl she once was. She spoke to no one, even when she went to church, she avoiding Ellie, Tommy, and Maria. After class, Nora would rush home, seeking refuge in the solitude that had become both her sanctuary and prison.
Only Joel knew the truth of what had happened that night, and he had been her anchor in the storm.
After that night, she stayed at Joel's. He had been nothing but gentle, his touch a stark contrast to the violence she had endured. He cleaned you up, gave you a bath, and ensured her privacy by standing near the tub with the curtain drawn, only intervening if Nora needed anything.
The care he showed her was the kind of protection she had longed for all her life. His presence was a balm to her wounded spirit, his protectiveness a shield against the darkness that threatened to consume her.
The morning after, she insisted on walking home, despite Joel's offer to drive her. Nora's house was nearby, but in her daze, she had forgotten to inform her parents where she had been. As she walked through the front door, her father's fury was immediate.
"Where have you been?" he demanded, his voice a thunderous roar. "You didn't tell us you were staying out. Do you have any idea how worried we were?"
"I stayed at Ellie's," she half lied, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you don't believe me, you can call Joel."
