I didn’t move a muscle, momentarily captivated by the raw beauty of this ethereal creature, while a swell of sympathy washed over me.
We were so very similar, this deer and me.
We were both prey.
An owl hooting high in the trees broke our trancelike stare down and the deer quickly skittered away.
“Run,” I whispered, watching it disappear from my view. “As fast as you can.”
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND JUST LET GO
Lizzie
SEPTEMBER 3, 2003
FEAR HAD TAKEN HOLD OF MY BODY TO THE POINT WHEREICOULDN’T LEAVE MY BED. With my arms hooked around my knees, I rocked back and forth, feeling overwhelmed and numb all at once.
My body ached all over, and the stabbing sensation between my thighs sent my mind into a deep spiral.
How long I had been here, I had no idea.
Why this had happened again was another unanswered question.
I only knew this was worse.
I felt worse.
I was trapped, and there was no escape.
I had been captured once more by the monster in my mind and caged inside of my body.
I wanted to purge my soul of this poison.
I wanted to slit my wrists to the bone and bleed the pain away.
At least that way, it would be over.
It would stop.
Because I needed it to all juststop.
Swept up in my sudden emotional turmoil, I tried to make sense of my thoughts, but everything was cloudy.
Confusion had swallowed me whole, while echoes ofhisvoice tipped me over the edge.
Teeth chattering, I continued to rock back and forth, while glancing at the instant photos I had found in the waistband of my skirt.
A little girl that looked just like me.
No!
Lying on her bed.
Stop it!
Without any clothes on.
It’s not real!
