LOGINStellaOne Year Later…The beach breeze is warm against my skin. The sound of laughter and light conversations fill my ears, causing me to smile more than I have for in the past. My brother's sit on the opposite side of the table, while my parents, Lillian, Adrian, and I are on the other.We decided
StellaI was discharged from the hospital just a few hours ago. Adrian kept me in his car while he ran out to the store and bought all new groceries for me, buying me snacks and drinks for me to eat while I relax at home. It is a really kind gesture from him, something that he never would've done fo
Adrian looks at me and I shake my head, signaling for him to stay. He silently nods and remains in place, watching as the room is slowly vacated, my father remaining behind. His eyes flicker between us, the way I instinctively reach for Adrian’s hand.“What is it that you’re doing, Stella?” my fathe
StellaAdrian stayed by my side for the rest of the night. He held my hand and called the nurses over when I needed more pain medication to ease the stinging and burning feeling inside of my body. He helped me adjust my pillows and got me more blankets, bribing the teenage girls next-door to offer u
Stellathe first thing that I can hear is the faint beeps of a hospital machine. There is a hospital like ambience, just beyond my consciousness, rooted in reality, it is in a place where I am not. I can listen to the sound of nurses and doctors talking, but I fall back into a state of unconsciousne
AdrianMy heart races inside of my chest. I can’t think straight and I feel so dizzy, having to sit down since my legs feel like jelly. I tried to convince myself that everything is okay, that Stella is not in need in that Clara is just over exaggerating what she said on the phone, but something in
AdrianStella has been on my mind ever since I rescued her from the hoard of men last week. She looks so small compared to the rest of them, a scared yet agitated look sprawled across her face. The men were so aggressive with her, forcing their gifts and flowers into her face…How did they even know
AdrianThe bareness of the walls inside of my home have become a welcoming sight. There used to be decorations and expensive paintings that hung on the wall, a symbol of my wealth and accomplishments, but now there is nothing except for family photos from years ago that I barley paid attention to un
“Wow, that is amazing Stella. Good job,” my father pats my shoulder.Sebastian grabs the laptop from my lap and moves it onto his own. He begins to scroll through the files, trying to find the date I was taken and the time before and after.My father’s movement catches my eye. I watch him as he walk
Adrian“Adrian,” my name rolls off of Clara’s tongue like it is venom, seeping into my skin, making my anger even more erratic than before, “we need to talk.”“No, we don’t,” I respond. I stop in my path just a few steps away from her and cross my arms over my chest. I narrow my gaze at Clara and wa







