Maria.
I barely remembered how I got to my room. My legs carried me there on pure instinct, moving faster than my thoughts, faster than the ache pounding in my chest. The moment I shut the door behind me, whatever strength I had been clinging to shattered completely.
The tears I had been fighting so hard to hold back spilled freely, hot and relentless. I stumbled to the bed and collapsed onto it, curling into myself as silent sobs wracked my body. I pressed my face into the pillow, biting down hard to keep the sounds in, as if the walls themselves might turn against me if they heard.
Images replayed over and over in my head, faces staring, lips whispering, fingers pointing. The slap. The words. The way everyone looked at me like I was filth dragged into the light. Each memory struck like a fresh blow, and with every one, my chest tightened further.
I hadn't asked for any of it.
I hadn't asked him to kiss me.
