Chapter 31: The Aftermath

Mary's senses slowly returned, her vision blurry and her body trembling. The dim light of the backroom flickered above her, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Her clothes were disheveled, and the cold air stung her skin. As reality set in, she noticed the bruises on her arms and legs, and the shame hit her like a wave. She struggled to her feet, her mind racing.

She closed her eyes tightly, trying to block out the fragments of memories flooding back. She saw Mona's sly smile as she handed her the drink, Ryan's reassuring voice convincing her everything would be fine. She remembered the dizziness, the heaviness in her limbs as the drug took hold, and the way her surroundings blurred into nothingness.

A deep sob escaped her lips as she realized what must have happened. They had betrayed her. The people she had trusted, even briefly, had taken advantage of her vulnerability and crushed whatever was left of her trust.

Mary clutched her arms around herself as though she could shield herself from the weight of what had happened. Her feet felt like lead as she stumbled out of the building. The evening sky was dark, stars hidden behind thick clouds. The streets were quiet, and she walked aimlessly, her tears blinding her.

When she finally reached home, the house was lit, and the faint sound of the television drifted through the windows. She hesitated at the door, her hands shaking. A part of her wanted to run, to disappear into the night, but her body moved on its own.

Opening the door, she stepped inside. Her parents turned their heads almost immediately.

"Mary? Where have you been?" her father's voice was stern, but there was a tinge of worry beneath it.

"You didn't even answer your phone," her mother added, her arms crossed. "We've been worried sick!"

Mary stood there, unable to meet their eyes. Her throat felt dry, and the lump forming there made it impossible to speak.

"Mary, I'm talking to you!" her father said, his voice rising.

But Mary didn't respond. She turned away and hurried to her room, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Mary!" her mother called after her, but she didn't stop.

Inside her room, the weight of everything crashed down on her. She slid to the floor, burying her face in her hands as sobs wracked her body. Mona's laughter echoed in her mind. Ryan's false kindness replayed in a loop. And her parents' voices—disappointed, frustrated, and questioning—only deepened her guilt.

She sat there for what felt like hours, drowning in shame, betrayal, and self-loathing. Her gaze shifted to the desk, where a small, sharp pin lay. Her fingers trembled as she reached for it, memories of the pain it brought mingling with the numbing void in her heart. But this time, the pin wasn't enough.

She opened the drawer where she kept the bottle of pills she had hidden weeks ago, an escape she had promised herself she'd never use. Her hands shook as she unscrewed the cap, the pills spilling into her palm.

Tears streamed down her face as she stared at them, each one a reminder of how broken she felt. The words of Mona and Ryan echoed in her mind, blending with her parents' frustrated voices.

With a trembling breath, she whispered, "I'm sorry."

She swallowed the pills, one by one, her sobs growing quieter with each gulp. When the bottle was empty, she placed it on the desk beside the crumpled note she had written earlier. She collapsed onto the bed, her body sinking into the mattress as her vision blurred. The last thing she remembered was the sound of her heartbeat, slow and heavy, before everything faded to black.