NINE

KAREN

I woke up to my phone ringing. It's morning already, and rays of sunlight have already made their way into my room. It was beautiful.

I looked at my phone screen and saw that it was my friend Alice.

"Hi Karen, my brother is throwing a party this evening. Are you coming?" she asked.

"Sure, I will come if you can come pick me," I replied.

"Come on, Karen, you know I will be busy," she complained bitterly. I yawned. "That will be your punishment for waking me up this early," I joked.

"Fine, the party is at six, and I need to buy something by three. So, I will come and pick you up by three or four this evening. What do you say?" she asked.

"Fine by me," I replied. She hung up while I continued lying on my bed. I had decided that I can't continue staying in Devon's house; after all, we are not yet married. Besides, I don't want to meet his lecherous brother for now.

I still couldn't forget what he did to me. It haunts me every single day in my dreams.