Ella
Alone in the bathroom, I carefully wrapped my bruised hands in fresh bandages, wincing at the sting. The memory of Aidan’s harsh words echoed in my mind, his scorn cutting deeper than any physical wound.
“I’m not weak,” I whispered to myself, though the words felt hollow.
This is just a month into school a month of living this charade as my brother. No one must realize how weak I was because if they knew the truth—if any of them knew the truth—it would be the end of me.
But sometimes, I couldn’t help wondering... would Aidan and Nikolai treat me differently if they knew?
The thought was fleeting, chased away by fear. No, the truth was dangerous. I couldn’t afford to trust anyone, especially not them.
A sudden creak made me freeze. I turned, my heart racing, but the d
