Page 57 (1/2)

It was childish and selfishand true He wasn't one to glas or pretend they didn't exist

136

He was a selfish ly apparent as it was right now

He'd stay away as long as he could, ers as he had to And he'd pray that sooddess

Chapter Twelve

Selena lay in bed with the thick folds of her coverlet drawn close For a few precious seconds, before she came fully awake, the promise of a nen filled her consciousness It was still dark outside, but soon, soon the daould come

Today they'd promised to take her outside

She eased her eyelids open and stared at theEven the shadowed streaks of the iron bars couldn't daunt her enthusiasuidly and pushed the coverlet back Sitting up, she glanced around the rooht by Lara

Wash your face Sit on the toilet

Selena smiled at the ease hich she retrieved the ed feet onto the cold wooden floor and walked to the coely inappropriate to walk On such a special day, she should ical way

She poured tepid water into the porcelain bowl and washed her face Reaching for the towel beside the basin, she caught sight of her reflection in the oval mirror and paused, her hand frozen in midair

She leaned closer to the mirror, able to see the shape of her face at last Her eyes were no longer sed by swollen layers of bruised flesh She could see them

137

138

clearly now, and in looking into her own eyes, she felt as if she were finally seeing some portion of herself