Chapter 16

MARIA

While sitting on the bed, fear clutched me, uncertainty about what lay ahead seized my thoughts. Tears welled up, blurring my vision as I clasped my hands, haunted by the grotesque memories, the painful echoes of repeated violation. The room seemed to shrink, suffocating me with its walls. Dante’s departure left an ominous imprint, his eyes burning with a mix of pain and anger, a terrifying sight etched in my mind.

Summoning courage, I rose from the bed, yet my legs faltered, a lingering dizziness refusing to dissipate. Shuffling to the closet where I stored my bag, I retrieved my Franciscan Crown Rosary. Kissing its familiar beads, I returned to the bed, sinking to my knees, hands entwined, shutting out the world. Amidst the emptiness and agony, I felt cursed, as if destiny conspired against me, burdening me with misfortune. Doubts about God’s protection gnawed at me; the weight of this ordeal felt unbearable, contradicting the promise of divine shelter.

Tears streamed down, a