Temperance I sit at a table in the house I grew up in after mom died. Alec and Emaline sit in front of me. Multiple pictures of younger me align the walls. Those are the pictures that my late mother used to have on the walls in the house we lived in all together. I laugh with Alec about something I don't remember as Emalines eyes are filled with terror, staring at the front door as a man walks in. I ignore the man, looking at her with wide eyes. "I thought you were dead?" I suddenly remember seeing Emalines dead body. I remember holding her dead body. My heart begins to race. "That's not what you should be worried about Temp." She responds, her eyes not leaving the man at the door. I glance at the door, my heart drops and I feel my blood start to flow backwards as I see my father. "I... I thought you were dead? I thought you were dead how are you here?" I gasp, I stand up, backing up. I glance towards Alec and Emaline only to find them gone. "I never died. I was just waiting f

Temperance I stare at the dead man in front of me, foam drying onto his skin as Alec paces angrily. I open my mouth to say something but then put my hands up to my neck, gently rubbing the place where his hands were. I'm so cold I feel my nipples poke out, stabbing my shirt. I'm trembling not only from the cold but from the fear I just had shoot through me. My throat is scratchy and my neck is tender. My cheek hurts from where he slapped me. I haven't felt so beat up in a long time. On the way outside he shoved me multiple times, ending up halfway dragging me, yanking my arm. It took Alec ten minutes to get to me. I could've died in that time. I'm going to have to start defending myself if I want to continue staying here. "What's going on out here?" I feel a cruel presence behind me as Adams voice booms through the quiet patters of the rain. Before anyone can react I watch in slow motion as Alec's already weak body gives out, collapsing onto the wet grass. "Alec!" I scream hi

TemperanceI thought everyone is supposed to have character growth. Not just in books but in real life. Yet it's been a year and a half and I'm still stuck on what happened during my adolescence.I stare in the mirror I stand in front of. Things are definitely different from back then. My looks included.Back then my hair was long and thin. Now it's thick and short, down to my shoulders. My eyes used to be dull and lifeless but now they are bright. My thin and honey body is now healthy and I'm never starving.To think I almost killed myself.If I would have I wouldn't be where I am now. Both of my parents are dead, anyone who's wronged me is gone, I'm surrounded by a loving husband and amazing friends.Several times my mind has gone back to the one person that escaped my grasp. The one person that slipped through my fingers.Emaline.My best friend.I see her every time I closed my eyes. Her face is morphed now, it's blurry. Her face has faded from my mind. I haven't forgotten her, ju

Temperance"He might not even go through with the marriage." Connor states, leaning on my dresser beside me as we stare at the wall opposite to us.I shake my head no, giving a sad smile, "The fact t-that he's e-even going is enough d-disrespect to me. I'm... I'm not-not staying here." I try to twist my ring around only to get a stab in the heart when I find nothing there.Connor turns towards me, "You're leaving. What about us? You'll be leaving everyone. Me, Zander, Ethan, Damien, Rea, Bee, and Ella. Can you really handle that?"I have made amazing friends while being here... but I can't just walk around this mansion like it's mine whenever Alec will take a wife soon."I c-can see you... and Z-Zander-no not him. Chris, I can see him. No o-one else." I love them all but I know I'll only be able to keep a tight circle if it means leaving. I know Alec will look for me when I leave and I'm not planning to let him find me.He tries to speak, trying to get me in my right mind before I beg

TemperanceTossing and turning through the night.My sleep has always been weary. The only time I ever got a full night of sleep was whenever my father would knock me unconscious.Being by Alec would help me. All I would do is put my hand on his chest. His chest moving up and down would help lull me to sleep.I turn towards the wall on the stained twin sized mattress. I look at the door, staring through the fist sized hole.Alec isn't here anymore. It's just me.My sheets and pillow smell like my room. Our room. They smell like Alec.I inhale the scent, letting a tear slip down my scarred cheek.I feel disgusted letting my wonderful sheets touch this disgusting mattress. It's the only thing blocking my skin from touching the stains but it still makes me cringe.People have no doubt had sex on this mattress. This is a whore house after all. My only question is how long will I be able to stay here?I have to pay up someday and they will make me do it with my body.I don't want that.I'v