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I ignored the pain in my neck and shoulders that having my head tugged at strange angles all night had brought, but I couldn’t get my fists to unclench as Nora flitted around me, dabbing pink on my cheeks.
“I’ll leave your hair down,” Nora said. “The color brings a nice contrast to your fair complexion.”
I didn’t bother trying to answer. After protesting her using the kohl pencil on my eyelids, I learned Nora didn’t actually care what I thought of the manner in which she preened me. It had been two hours since she’d finished with my hair and dragged me into her room. She dressed me and painted me like I was nothing more than her doll. A doll she preferred to remain mute at that.
Nora dabbed a bit of tingling cream on my lips. “It really is a pity.” She looked at me as though waiting
