Sage Rose Parker, a seventeen almost eighteen year old girl getting ready for college with her two friends.
Having the world on her shoulders and her past in her mind she's down to break.
An alcoholic as a mother and an abusive father in jail didn'...
(Trigger warnings: Parental Issues, Sexual Invasion of Space, Substance Use, Anxiety and Peer Pressure)
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"Shadows of Compliance" ====================================
Once, you moved through life unbound, a flame untouched by the winds of others. But somewhere along the line, that fire dimmed,
not with a roar, but slowly, subtly, like embers buried under a blanket of ash.
Trust was given away, piece by fragile piece, to hands that promised warmth, then left you shivering, cold, and unsure. Now, the void inside you whispers doubts that echo louder than any reassurance.
You wear this doubt like armor, and tell yourself you're still strong, still fearless. But when the light fades and silence weighs, you feel each choice you surrendered, like bruises pressed into your soul.
It's then you learn: sometimes, the silence is where your voice is found. ~~~~~~~~
The first rays of morning light spill across the room, soft and golden, stirring me awake. A shiver runs down my spine as I feel the gentle, unwelcome touch of fingers trailing up my thigh. My body tenses, heart leaping into my throat as panic crashes over me like a cold wave.
I flinch, a familiar dread knotting in my stomach, before I remember where I am. Owen's arm is draped casually over me, his eyes already open and watching with a lazy smile. He either doesn't notice my reaction or chooses to ignore it.
"Morning, princess," he says, voice low and smooth, as if the events of last night haven't frayed every nerve in my body.
I force a small nod, my voice coming out as a murmur. "Morning." I sit up, the sheets rustling around me as I scan the room, my guard still firmly in place. The discomfort lingers, spreading through me like a slow poison.
My eyes drop to the fabric covering my body, and confusion flickers when I notice I'm not wearing the dress from the night before. I glance at Owen, my heartbeat quickening.
He catches my look and grins, the expression easy and carefree. "One of my maids changed you," he says with a shrug, as if it's the most normal thing in the world.
I raise an eyebrow. "You have maids?"
His smile doesn't falter as he leans back against the headboard. "I do," he says, before leaning in slightly, his breath warm against my ear as he speaks. "My parents aren't here right now," he says, his voice low, almost teasing. He moves a strand of my hair out of my face, his fingers brushing my skin.
A chill runs through me at the touch, and I can feel my shoulders tense instinctively. I don't even try to hide it, but Owen laughs softly, clearly amused. He backs off, giving me space again.
