𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐋 |𝟏𝟖+|

𝐄 𝐈 𝐆 𝐇 𝐓 𝐘 ~ 𝐓 𝐖 𝐎

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

✼ N E V A E H ✼

Atlas and I spent most of our day at the ski slopes, building snowmen, and having a snow ball fight. I have to admit that it's the most fun I've had out in nature in a long ass time. And to think that it's been 10 months since I was taken against my will all the way across the country. It's almost as if the life I lived in Florida was a distant memory, or a dream I'd had one night and woke up the next morning only remembering fragments of it.

I guess it really showed me something I was to stubborn to realize or admit to myself. That I was nothing but a person who buried my head in work and escaping any semblance of a life I could have if only I wasn't too scared and scarred by my past. If fear didn't hold me back then maybe I wouldn't be here, where I am right now. But if I hadn't grown from that fear I wouldn't be opening my heart up to someone else and a part of me knowing that I wouldn't get it in the same state it was, but doing it anyway.

I stared at my reflection in the full length mirror. An elegant, long black silk dress flush on my body, pronouncing my waist and the curve of my ass. And for once, maybe the first time in the longest time, I didn't hate what I saw. I didn't hate myself. It may be the first turn in a long road ahead of me, but it was still progress. It was almost like the possibility of fully loving myself wasn't so far away.

Just then my phone began to ring, tearing me from my thoughts. I looked at the caller ID and realized that it was my dad and knowing him- the more I put off his phone calls, the more he will call until the possibility of what he could want from me runs endlessly through my head. So I just give in. And with his seven phone calls in the last day, it just proves to me that he knows exactly what he's doing.

"Nevaeh, you can keep ignoring my calls, but you can't ignore your reality." Was the first thing my father said to me. No "hi", no "hello, how are you doing?" Just his usual directness.

I would say I'm used to it by now and it wouldn't entirely be a lie, but the only thing was my father wasn't always like this. He was a caring and gentle parent until the constant need for power consumed him and his every being. And like a vacuum, it suctioned every bit of his old self he had left. I guess a part of me wishes she had her dad.

"What do you want, Dad?" I asked, rolling my eyes as I felt my hands get clammy with sweat.

"It's not about what I want, Nevaeh. It's about what you want. Which is why I have to ask you, do you want to continue living the life you've always had?" He asked, even though I'm sure he already knew the answer to it.

I hesitated before I answered with a shaky breath, "Of course I do."

"Then you already know what needs to be done." And without another word, his line went off.

I had to question if I really knew what had to be done, but I just can't come to terms with it.

I pushed the thoughts of my father out
of my head. I was already getting a headache just hearing his voice. Besides, Atlas was waiting for me at the dining hall at the main cabin a few cabins across from us and I couldn't keep him waiting.

I made my way to open the door just for it to be thrown open right in front of me. Atlas is walked in with a breeze of cold air following him. His facial expression was flushed from the cold and as soon as he saw me he had that wide grin on his face. "Come here, baby." He said with his arms wide spread anticipating the hug. "You look stunning as always." His hands went straight to my waist as mine wrapped around his neck, as he pulled me into his warm embrace.