Prompt #3: Scale
(TW: eating disorder, sexual abuse, abuse)
Hunger gnawed at her like an animal in her belly, clawing for freedom. Dizziness was a constant companion. Some steps felt shaky, but she never let it show. Walk tall, proud, on heels just high enough to impress and tighten calf muscles without making her tower over every client. Show smooth skin, but not too much. Line eyes, paint nails, dust cheeks with rose, but look natural enough to please. An onze found its way back on to her body every so often. Humiliation, insults, threats of unemployment, barely-filled bowls snatched away. Greasy palms touching. Consensual violation. Tears at night, curled against bite of the desert cold.
Only for now.
She could suffer the now for a better future. For Seri. For herself. Soon.
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Elysica woke in a cold sweat, stumbling her way to the bathroom to be sick. That, too, was a disturbing reminder of times long since past. She hadn’t so much as looked at a scale in years. Why this? Why now? The ceramic is cool against her forehead as she rests it down, not daring to close her eyes and re-summon the memories. Some things were better left to nightmares.











