Chapter 33 All For Shopia

• The cold morning air bit into Edeline’s skin as she stood before the mirror. She wore nothing more than white cotton joggers and a sleeveless tank top, leaving her arms exposed. Her eyes narrowed at the dark bruises marring her slim arms. Fingers traced and pressed carefully over them, each touch stinging, the dull ache refusing to fade.
• The marks from last night—the violence of Simon’s hands—were still there, angry and blue beneath her fair skin. Her chest tightened at the memory. Edeline quickly pulled on a long-sleeved sweater to cover them, determined not to let herself relive the torment. Last night had been enough. So enough that she had swallowed sleeping pills to calm her panic, forcing herself into rest, refusing to be suffocated by her trauma yet again.
• Knock, knock, knock.