194. Laura
I now believe the saying that what goes around comes back around.
Steve brought the knife down in one swift motion, slicing through the bracelet that had bound us together. The moment the last thread snapped, something inside me shattered. A force so raw and unforgiving tore through my chest, knocking the air from my lungs. I staggered, my knees buckling as searing pain erupted within me. It was as if an unseen hand had reached into my soul and ripped something vital away.
I clutched at my chest, gasping, my head dropping to my knee as the agony intensified. My body trembled, my breath coming in short, ragged bursts. It felt like a bond breaking—no, it was a bond breaking. But how?
I screamed when the pain became too unbearable. I had been beaten, had stones thrown at me and
