Chapter 35 Melissa

• The morning light crept through the drapes, creating a pleasant glow throughout the room. I sat up in bed, my mother's calm face rested on the cushion beside me, her breathing regular and gentle. I envied her capacity to find peace amid such chaos. I had been tossing and turning all night.
• How had my life come to this? I never anticipated having to choose between my freedom and my very existence, much alone being trapped. But here I was, stuck between Frank's perverse protection and the impending menace of Big T. Frank's offer was plausible, and I knew it.
• Still, my mother was the most pressing issue on my mind. Every move, every decision I took, was for her. The vow I made to myself last night remained: this is for her. That mantra kept me anchored.