Story #1

She suddenly opened her eyes and slowly sat up on the bed. She turned her head to the right, knowing there was a mirror there and caught a glimpse of her appearance. Her eyes became wide with shock and bewilderment by the sight that she saw. 1

She gradually got up from the bed and walked towards the mirror to get a better look.2

She looked at herself in the mirror and saw a circle-shaped blood stain on her white dress. It was perfectly centered, right below her breasts. The blood wasn’t anywhere else on her dress, but there. Despite the fact, that she only had a single blood stain on her dress, her entire dress was ripped and dirty.3

She looked down at her hands and saw more blood. She knew exactly that it was her blood. She looked up at the mirror and continued to examine her reflection. All she saw was a pale, small-shaped figure that she hardly recognized. Her face was dirty, as if someone blew charcoal dust on it. She had dark circles around her eyes from all the tears that she shed. She was still crying and the more she cried the more her eyes became swollen and developed red streaks inside them. Her curly black hair was in tangles and it was wet. She didn’t know if it was wet with her tears, blood, or something else. Her hair felt sticky and dirty. She felt so disgusted. 4

She couldn’t understand what had happened. How she got this way. 5

As soon as she blinked her eyes, the thoughts came rushing towards her, like a movie in fast forward.6

She remembered being locked up for day in this very room that she woke up in. She couldn’t do anything in this room. All she did was sit from one spot to another, with her head always bowed down, in fear and shame.7

It was a beautiful room that she called her own. For every piece of her identity was shattered in this room. She felt comfort here. This was her favorite place. 8

Out of all the things that she loved about this room, there was one thing that she utmost loved. The one thing that she loved the most was that there was one large window, that allowed a great deal of light to shined through it everyday. This was the only thing that made her feel free. 9

Even though, this room was her kingdom, this room was also her seclusion.10

She wanted to leave and she tried so many times, but she never succeeded. The only time that the door to this room was opened, for her to somewhat experience the outside world, was when her father came in to beat and rape her. The rest of the time, she was locked away.11

As all the thoughts proceeded to rush back to her, she suddenly smiled because she finally remembered what had happened. 12

The last time, her father came into her room, he set her free and captured himself. 13

She walked towards the door and gradually opened it. As soon as the door was open, she saw that bright light; the one that shined through her window everyday. She continued to smile, as she walked towards the light. 14

She knew that she had gain the freedom that she always yearn for.