It's a beautiful morning, the soft sun rays pouring through the curtains, but I'd be lying if I said I was happy. My life is supposed to be perfect—successful career, beautiful home, loving fiancé.
But guess who's never actually happy? Me.
I'm always looking forward to going to work so I can escape the torment I get from my fiancé at home. Today, Elle and I will be leaving for a two-week vacation with my best friend, Luna. Just the thought makes my chest feel lighter.
I take a shower, dress up carefully, do my hair, and apply makeup to cover the bruises. Bruises given to me by someone who claims to love me. Someone who threatens to kill himself if I leave him.
I'm so excited—I won't be seeing Caspian for two whole weeks. But before I left this morning, he didn't hesitate to remind me who's in charge. His hand wrapped around my wrist too tight, leaving fresh marks. "Don't try anything funny," he'd said, his eyes cold. "I'll know."
I feel terrible about keeping my suffering from Luna and Darcy. If they knew, they'd try to harm him. Luna would beat him senseless and Darcy—God, Darcy would actually kill him. Which would put them both in danger. And if I told them, if I tried to out him, he'd release the videos. The ones he has of me. The ones that prove I "consented" to what he did to me.
Videos I never consented to being filmed.
Darcy is dangerous. Unhinged when someone she loves is threatened. Luna is a downright psycho when pushed. Luckily, Darcy's abroad right now, volunteering. It won't be long before they both find out the truth.
I'm just hoping that by the time they do, I'll have found those fucking videos and deleted them.
As soon as I'm ready, I hear a honk at my gate. Luna's here.
"Hurry up, bitch! Don't got all day here!" she shouts from her car.
"Can you be nice to me for even one minute?" I call back.
She just looks at me through her designer sunglasses, her expression clearly saying absolutely not.
I load my suitcase into her trunk and slide into the passenger seat. It's going to be a two-hour drive to MarCo Hotel, and as we pull out, we immediately start chatting. For a moment—for just a beautiful, perfect moment—I forget that I'm sad. Forget that I'm broken inside and out.
Luna is my happiness. My soulmate. My protector.
And yes, I know what you're thinking: How can she protect Luna when she can't even protect herself?
I used to be fierce. Strong. The kind of lawyer who made opposing counsel shake. But right now? I'm a chicken. All because I'm trying to keep my loved ones safe from my stupid, abusive boyfriend.
Darcy, on the other hand, is like our mother. Our partner in crime. But she won't give us a break for being older than us by three years. She mothers us relentlessly.
"Hey, Elle, are you okay?" Luna's voice cuts through my thoughts. "You zoned out for a minute."
"I'm okay, Moon."
"You sure? You can take a nap if you want. I'll wake you up when we get there."
I can't sleep. Who's going to keep her company while she drives? Besides, if I close my eyes, I'll see his face. Feel his hands.
"No, it's okay. I'm not tired," I lie.
She glances at me, and I swear she can see right through my makeup. The dark circles under my eyes. The way I'm pulling my sleeves down over my wrists. Luna is the most observant person I've ever met. Perks of being a therapist, I suppose.
She looks at my wrists for just a second too long before returning her eyes to the road.
I see her jaw tighten. She knows something's wrong, but she doesn't push. Not yet.
Instead, she queues up Jason Derulo on the sound system, and we spend the rest of the drive singing at the top of our lungs. She can actually sing. I sound like a toddler learning to talk for the first time.
Luna's normally a quiet person—introverted to her core—but with me and Darcy? She's chatty. Playful. Free.
I hold onto that. Hold onto this moment of freedom.
Because in two weeks, I have to go back to him.
Unless I can find those videos first.