ELLA
The heavy bag absorbed my frustration with each strike.
Left jab. Right hook. Left jab. Right hook.
I fell into the rhythm, letting the repetitive motion drown out the chaos in my mind. The impact reverberated up my arms, a grounding pain that reminded me I was still here.
I was still fighting, and I was still alive even if it didn't feel that way most days.
The gym was my sanctuary after hours. I had discovered months ago that the lock on the athletic wing was laughably easy to bypass, and since then, I had made a habit of coming here when the world became too much to bear.
The darkness suited me. The solitude was a gift. Tonight, I needed both desperately.
Selene had spent the entire morning discussing wedding details with my father over breakfast. Flower arrangements. Seati
