Quicksand

'Please,' I begged, tears streaming down my face. Adrik's gaze never wavered. 'Kiss me,' he repeated. My lips trembled, my heart heavy with fear." Tears streamed down my face as I stared at Adrik, his expression unyielding. "'Please,' I begged, my voice trembling. Adrik's gaze never wavered. "'Kiss me, and I'll feed your mother,' he said, his voice devoid of emotion. *************************************************

.My dreams had always been clear: excel academically, attend Yale, land a fulfilling job, find love, and build a happy family. I longed for a peaceful life, filled with joy and stability. But then, a monster burst into my world, shattering my aspirations and claiming me as his own. His presence cast a dark shadow over every aspect of my existence, transforming my once hopeful dreams into a never-ending nightmare. His grip was unyielding, and I found myself trapped in a living hell, where my dreams seemed forever lost. The life I once envisioned was now a distant memory, replaced by a reality that was both terrifying and suffocating.

"Joy!!!" I heard my mom shout. "I'm coming!" I quickly put on my shoes; we were extremely late for church. I checked my reflection in the mirror one last time. I was wearing a long red dress with black heels, my hair neatly done up. Satisfied with my appearance, I headed downstairs, where I spotted my mom by the door, a strained look on her face. "Let's go, we're late," she said urgently. We quickly made our way to the car, hoping to make it on time despite the rush.

We arrived at the church twenty minutes later than planned, and I immediately noticed that the parking lot was unusually crowded. There was an array of expensive-looking cars that I knew none of our regular church members could afford, leading me to speculate that we might have new visitors or members. It was challenging to find a parking spot, but once we did, we hurried inside. My first impression upon entering was puzzling: "Why is the church divided?" I glanced at my mom, and the look on her face confirmed that she was thinking the same thing. On one side of the church were familiar faces-our regular church members. On the other side were new faces, all dressed in black attire except for a stunning lady in a baby pink outfit. I wondered if there was a funeral taking place. Luckily, I spotted my best friend Alisa, who had saved a seat for me in the front row. Relieved, I thanked God for her thoughtful gesture.