Sheila’s POVA week later, I came home to find a black dress laid out on my bed like a threat.It was simple. Soft black fabric, short sleeves with a skirt that hit mid‑thigh, and a neckline a little lower than anything I’d ever worn outside the house.Zuki appeared in my doorway, arms crossed. “Tonight,” she said. “We test you in the wild.”“In the what?” I asked.“The wild,” she repeated. “A club. Music. Strangers. Lights. Real field conditions.”“I’m underage,” I said nervously.“It’s an 18+ place,” she replied, laughing. “They just X your hand so you can’t drink. Relax, we’re not getting arrested.”I stared at the dress. “I’m not wearing that.”“Yes, you are,” she said. “You’ll wear it with the boots we bought and the jacket you like so you don’t feel naked.”She walked over, picked up the dress, and held it to my front. “Trust me.”I swallowed. “Why do we need a club, exactly?”“Because,” she said, “you’ve practiced in safe spaces. Cafés, Bobby’s room, texts. All with a safety ne
Last Updated : 2026-01-03 Read more