Devastation

Meliza's POV

Life on my stepdad's estate was great, and I loved spending my free time in the fields. At night, I often wandered to the barn, where I'd talk for hours with Gracie. I made new friends, mostly the children of farmhands, but I grew closest to Gracie and her older brother, Taylor.

Taylor was passionate about sports, and to my surprise, we had something in common—I had loved martial arts before my part-time job took over my life. He even taught me new techniques, pushing me beyond what I thought I was capable of. I started spending more time with him than Gracie, though I always made sure to have our girl talk.

One afternoon, after watching their training, Taylor turned to me. "Iza, why do you love martial arts so much? You're excellent. With the right training, you could join our team."

I shook my head. "I appreciate it, but I'm not interested. My mother wouldn't approve. She says I'm a lady and should act like one."