Ashley stared at herself in the mirror. It had seemed like a good idea to wash her face, hoping to remove the tell-tale signs of her tears. The problem was, not only had it failed to soothe the redness of her puffy eyes, but now that she had washed away the make-up, the harsh tone of the purple bruise seemed to stand in stark, eye-drawing contrast against her pale skin.
Her stomach churned as she wished she could hide herself away in the bathroom until she could leave. Gritting her teeth, she forced her shoulders back and emerged from the safety of the locked room.
This family now knew more about her than any of her closest friends. She had felt compelled to tell them the truth, to share her burdens. More than that, she had felt safe. She liked to think of herself as strong and independe
