THEY DRUGGED ME  

MIA  

I had been in this house for days, living like a ghost. I leave the house before or after everyone has left for work. I don't bother with breakfast. I come back when everyone has gone to bed, and go into the kitchen only when it is empty. 

I didn't bother with fresh food for dinner, I ate whatever was left in the fridge at odd hours and locked my bedroom door the second I was inside. It wasn’t convenient, but it was better than living off someone again.

Lila made it her job to remind me I didn’t belong here… my father's house. And the funny thing is, my mother supported my dad in getting this house, and it was designed to her taste. 

“Still here, charity case?” She would always come to my door to knock. “Lucas finally realized you’re used goods?” she would continue from outside the door, laughing like she was talking about her favorite movies. 

But I always ignored her because answering gave her what she wanted.

Lila’s mother never raised her voice. She didn’t need to, but one look from her was enough to send a message. She controlled the house the same way she controlled everything else completely.

And my father… He had started watching me again, the same way he looked at me years ago when bills were piling up. It sometimes made my skin crawl, but sometimes I ignored him because I knew one thing for a fact, he can't force me to do stuff like that anymore. 

****

As usual, I woke up before my alarm. But today, I felt heavy like my body was moving through water, but I blamed it on stress, lack of sleep, not being properly fed and most importantly, the weight of being back in this place.

I still managed to get up from my bed and dress for the café in the same black pants and plain shirt I always wore and padded downstairs as quietly as possible so I wouldn't wake anyone up. Then my eyes dropped on the dining table. A plate was neatly covered with a note placed on top. 

I moved closer and opened the paper, and surprisingly, it had my name on it. I opened the plate… Toast and egg.  

I looked around the house to see if anyone was watching, if this was a trap, because they have never left food for me before. Not once. But this offer was tempting because I was hungry. I pushed every thought aside and sat down to eat before anyone would walk in. I quickly rinsed the plate and left the house without seeing anyone.

The moment I opened the staff-only door of the café, I stopped.

Jax had Judith pressed against the small staff fridge, one hand on her waist pulling her closer, the other tangled in her hair. They were kissing so passionately, like they were in their bedroom. It was the kind of kiss that belonged to people who knew exactly how the other person liked to be touched. They felt so relaxed.

Judith made a soft sound against Jax’s mouth before they finally noticed me.

Jax pulled back first. “Morning,” she greeted casually.

Judith fixed her shirt and gave me a small, warm smile. “Hey, you’re early.”

I stood there for a second too long, not because it was my first time seeing them together, no… I have seen worse. But the way they held each other, that sense of belonging they have for each other, made something tight and lonely twist in my chest.

You can simply say I was jealous.  

I forced a faint smile and walked further in to get my apron.

“You look like shit,” Jax said, studying my face.

“Good morning to you too,” I said as I fixed my apron.

Judith poured a coffee and pushed it toward me. “Sit for a second before rush hour begins.” She studied me with her patient eyes. “You look exhausted, Mia, and thinner than last week. This isn’t good for you.”

I wrapped my hands around the cup but didn’t drink from it. I let the warmth fill my palms. “I’m fine.”

Jax leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “You’ve been quiet since you went back to that house, Mia.”

“I’m handling it,” I said calmly.

“That's Bullshit Mia.” Jax’s voice was blunt. “That place isn’t good for you, and we both know it.” Jax moved closer. “Come stay with us… the couch isn’t fancy, but it’s safe.”

Judith nodded in agreement. “No one there is going to look at you like you’re a problem.” She said softly.

I glanced at the fridge where they had just been kissing, then back at both of them.

“This is why I can’t stay with you both,” I said quietly.

Jax frowned. “What?”

“You’re together. You have your own life, your own space. I don’t want to sit on your couch watching the two of you be… happy and in love while I’m like this.” My voice stayed low. “I already feel like enough of a burden… I can't add loneliness to the list.” 

Judith’s expression softened. “Mia…”

“I’m a grown adult,” I cut in, gentler. “No one can force me to do anything I don’t want to do, not anymore.” I met Jax's eyes. “ And trust me, I’m being careful… You know what, they even left breakfast for me this morning with my name on it. Things are different now.”

Jax and Judith exchanged a look.

“Different doesn’t mean safe, Mia,” Judith said quietly.

“I’m handling it.” I turned toward the front of the café. “I appreciate you both. I do really, but I can’t keep running to other people every time life gets hard.”

Jax looked like she wanted to argue… she probably had a lot of warnings to give. Instead, she sighed and muttered, “Just promise you’ll call if it gets bad.”

“I promise,” I said casually as the first customer walked in. But I didn’t mean it.

****

The shift dragged on. My body felt heavier as the hours passed… maybe I was having a fever. I gripped the counter to steady myself. I blamed myself for not sleeping properly. By the time I finally clocked out, the sun was already low.

As usual, Jax and Judith walked me a great length, even when I insisted I was fine alone, even when we were going in different directions, and I insisted on taking the long road. They followed me halfway no matter the decision I made.

They were the only true creatures I had.

When I finally unlocked the front door, the house was quiet.  Lila’s mother was not in her usual seat, my father’s boots were missing from the mat, and I didn’t even hear Lila's voice echoing from her room. With the way it was, I was home alone. I took a deep breath I didn't even know I was holding.

I instinctively looked at the dining table and found another set of neatly arranged plates.

“That should be mine,” I said, smiling as I hurried towards the dining table.

It didn't look suspicious again, maybe Lila's mother now saw me as a human, or better still, she didn't want me to die in my father's house, because it would be on her record.

I sat down and ate in silence; every bite watered my tongue deliciously. After eating, I washed the plate, climbed the stairs, and locked my bedroom door behind me.

Immediately, I sat on the edge of the bed to take off my shoes, the heaviness 

hit properly. I couldn't feel my limbs, the room tilted slightly when I tried to stand. I pressed my palm flat against the mattress, fighting to stay upright, then my heart started beating too fast. 

This wasn't a natural weakness. The breakfast…The dinner… was it?

“God, let it not be true”, I whispered, shaking. Because the food had been left only for me.

Immediately, Jax’s voice echoed in my head. [Different doesn’t mean safe.]

Judith’s quiet request followed. [You can stay with us…]

But I ignored them, thinking I could handle this. My vision began to blur. I tried to reach for my phone on the nightstand, but my arm felt like it belonged to someone else. The device slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with a dull sound. I slumped sideways onto the bed, breathing too shallowly.

They drugged me.

The realization terrified me because I didn't even know what they were about to do to me. That was the last thing I thought of before darkness pulled me under.