23. DON'T LEAVE

“My beautiful daughter. There is none as beautiful as you, just like your mother.”

I gulped down the saliva in my mouth. Each step he took forward I took one back. Even after all the years I still fell into his trap. My calves touched the bed and I jumped from the impact. Once again, the fear consumed me so much I did not realize I was going exactly where he wanted me.

I tried to scramble away but he rushed to push me down the bed. He straddled on top of me, holding me down with his weight.

I couldn’t breathe, my head twisting to the side as his fingers pinched my chin, pulling me back to stare at his red crazy eyes.

“You even smell like her.”

My eyes shut close, tears spilling even with the years of experience.

“Once upon a time she would tremble just like you do now.”

The words always left me trembling even harder.

His hand snaked under the flimsy bra he had gave Roselyn to make me wear for that day.

“So sexy.”

My skin was crawling, my insides turning in. The pleas stuck