**Sandi**
I lay on my bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, feeling the weight of my new reality settle over me. This was my life now—working, confined to a tiny room with no escape. I glanced over at the alarm clock Zelda had brought me earlier when she dropped off my dinner tray. The glowing numbers read nearly ten. Zelda had told me to set the alarm for four a.m., to give me enough time to get ready before she showed up to collect me.
I didn’t know how long it took me to fall asleep, but I was jolted awake when the alarm blared. Groggy, I sat up, forcing myself to get out of bed. I made my bed slowly, then shuffled into the bathroom for a shower. Standing under the hot spray, I took my time, massaging the thick gel into my skin, trying to wash away the dread.
When I finished, I towel-dried
