I stood in front of the mirror, slowly directing my eyes to my distressed reflection. I took it all in, overwhelmed. I used to be a strong person. What happened to me? How can some men bring me so much distress? Now, my forehead is constantly frowned, and my eyes are starting to get duller. The vivid green they once carried has now been shadowed by the darkness I carry inside me. My lips, they ache from the constant strained smile I have to wear.I don’t want to smile; I want to scream. I want to scream that it is not fair. I want to scream that I shouldn’t be forced to wear corsets that threaten to push my lungs out of my mouth, just to make sure I look presentable for the man I will be forced to marry. Forced! Forced by my dead father, who still has more power over me than I have over myself. He is still controlling my life, even from his grave, six feet under the dirt. I just want to be free! To travel the world, to see new people and new places. I don’t want to die with Venice being the farthest I have been from home. Home! Such a funny word. What is home? I will never know. Because what I live in is a prison. A big majestic prison, camouflaged as a castle. But it couldn’t fool me. I guess I am too smart for my own good.