I sat curled up in the corner of the bathroom for some time after Brandon left. "I'm sure you have a lot to think about," he had murmured, his fingers tracing a pattern across my bare, bruised shoulder before turning and walking away, leaving me still staring at the reflection in the mirror. I had been vaguely aware of a key turning in the lock, a small audible click that echoed through the empty bedroom, but all I could do was continue to stare numbly and breathe in the scent of the bath oils that were now starting to make me feel the creeping touch of nausea in the base of my stomach. Backing up slowly, I hit the wall and slid down it, crumpling to the floor, tangled in the white bed sheet that I still clutched to my chest. Thin skin stretched tightly over my knuckles as I gripped the li
