Chapter 28 : Justice

*Charlotte*

Jessica’s words hung in the air between us like the moment before lightning struck. I could see her trembling, tears swimming in her eyes as she pulled her arms around herself like she was trying to protect herself from a rain of blows.

Her fear and despair were visceral.

And I knew that look- that fear as intimately as it was my own because I’d seen it over and over again. Felt it myself back when I was still indebted, betrayed, and angry at the world and myself for the situation I’d been thrust into. Trapped in a place that only wanted to take what it could from me and leave me a shell of myself.

Terrified of what would become of me when night fell and there was no one to see me if I disappeared.

I’d seen women in my situation sell themselves to men whose names they didn’t even know, who’d been tricked by nice smiles and pretty words only to end up abandoned. I’d never thought them foolish because when you’re at the bottom of the darkest hole, you’d tak