Bound

During the year of their eighteenth birthday, the women of Grayson must undergo The Awakening- a ceremony in which they are chosen by their mates. In a patriarchy where men rule everything and women are seen as nothing more than instruments for childbearing, Mia has no say in who her husband will be. When the man who chooses her turns out to be cruel and abusive, there is nothing she can do to leave the violent relationship. As is the law in Grayson, she is bound to her husband until death.

Feeling trapped and alone in her marriage, Mia finds comfort in her house servant, Ruby. As they grow close, a forbidden love blossoms. Mia wants to flee her marriage and be with Ruby, but fear holds her back. If the government found out about her prohibited relationship, she and Ruby would be sentenced to death. She wants to find happiness, but not at such a high cost.

Mia embarks on a journey of romance, betrayal, and rebellion as she tries to find her voice in a place where women were meant to be silent.

© Dawn Norwell

"Though I'd spent my entire life denying it, I could no longer live a lie. I didn't love my husband. I could never love him. After repressing it for so long, I finally accepted that I was gay. I had always been gay. And no number of threats or scare tactics from the government would change the fact that I would always be gay."
_______________________________________________________________________________
"Horribly fascinating!"

"Wow, this is so chilling. I can't wait to read more!"

"There are ways in which the real world has treated women and homosexuals that mirrors what is happening here. I find it disgusting, intolerable - and that means stories like this need to exist."

"This does a great job showing some seriously underrepresented issues in the world :)"

#1 in future fantasy
2nd place in The Black and Gold Leaf Awards
3rd place in The Creativity Awards

Warning- This story contains domestic violence and sexual assault.