Page 56 of Virginity Sold

That girl is nothing but a hole to fill. Nothing more. When this weekend is over, she’ll just be a blip on your radar. Another thing in your book you marked off. A virgin. She’s nothing but a high-priced prostitute.

To him I’m nothing. Just a whore. A penniless, worthless woman.

My only worth to him was what I had to give—what I no longer have.

My innocence.

I don’t get to dwell on it for long. Because another round of betrayal hits me as I remember that night, coming home.

Daddy!

Mama. She’s been in contact with him this whole time. She let him beat me, even getting a few kicks in of her own.

A piercing scream rings out, and I’m transported back to that moment of fear.

Not knowing if I’m going to live or die. Will the next hit he delivers be the one to end me?

Mama’s laughter and cheering him on, ripping the final fragile shreds holding my heart together.

It will never be able to be mended after this.

Frantic voices slip through the tiny crevices of my awareness, attempting to bring me back to the present.

The alarms on the machines wail in the background, as I can’t pull myself out of it. All I feel is pain, betrayal, and defeat. I’m nothing. No one cares for me, not even the woman who carried me in her womb for nine months, the one person who should love me above all else.

Hands grip my arms, speaking words I can’t make out.

Furied voices in the background, but the last few days play on repeat in my brain. The highs and lows of everything and I’m left with nothing and no one.

Then darkness hits and I slip away. But the bittersweet memories are still there, just muted.

My eyelids slowly lift. They feel heavy, making the movement challenging.

They’re here. All seated around me, heads down in their phones, except for Kyrian. His head is resting on the bed, eyes closed, holding my casted hand gently in his as soft snores escape his lips.

“What are you doing here?” comes from me in anger.

“For you, Little Mouse,” Liam answers. Once I wanted his praise. For him to tell me how good I was. I’d be lying if I said I still didn’t, but I know I’m nothing to him.

“No, you’re not. You made that clear,” I spit back, jerking my head to the side, ignoring the pain.

Kyrian pops up, his hair disheveled and a trail of drool hanging from his mouth. Another time, I’m sure it would be adorable, and I’d love it. But he’s part of their family and though he didn’t say the words I heard that day, he did nothing to contradict them.

“What are you talking about, Sunshine?” Kyrian asks, as he rubs his eyes with the heels of his hands.

“You don’t have to stay, you can go. There’s no need to be here out of pity.”

“I’m not understanding. Elena, what are you talking about? What pity?” Liam asks, and I glare at him.

“You know why. There’s no need to pretend. I heard you.”

All three of them look confused, casting their gazes between each other to me.

“You don’t have to be here because of what happened to me. It’s not your fault I have crappy parents. You’re free of any obligation. The weekend is over.”

Their eyes go wide at my words.

“Holy shit! Your memories are back?” he asks in a shocked whisper.

---