The room was damp. It chilled her core, rattled her bones. She was in a house full of people but she felt alone, like no one really knew her. She barely knew herself. The thought made her stomach churn, her skin crawling with loneliness. She knew she wouldn’t cry, but that was no comfort, hot tears would at least provide some warmth. Numbness seeped through her veins, threatening to envelop her completely. So instead she closed her eyes, letting herself drift into another land where the sun touched her skin and hot wax melted in the trees. It was the afternoon of extravagant delight









