[Trigger Warning: Mention of child abuse and grooming. Reader discretion is advised.]
***
[Music: Broken By Isak Danielson]
I used to think she loved me. That I was favored and wanted, because it explained why she called me into her room when the house was quiet, why she smiled at me, and caressed me like I meant the world to her.
She made it seem natural when she touched my cheek tenderly, when her lips pressed against mine, and when her hand lingered. She spoke softly, praised me, and told me that I made her feel safe and loved.
Love.
That fucking word was a toxin that invaded my bloodstream and devoured my soul piece by piece. Because it justified everything, every action that made me question reality.
"Why does Stepmother love you differently?" Athena would ask me, trying to understand why I was always alone with her.
Athena would stand at the doorway, clenching her teddy when the door closed behind me.
"I don't know." I would reply because I couldn't explain it either.
