#Chapter 43: Black Eyes & White Lies

Ella The dim light of the restroom cast shadows that danced eerily across the ornate walls. I stood there, staring blankly at the face reflected back at me from the gilded mirror. The hushed whispers of the escorts in the adjacent stalls echoed painfully in my mind, punctuated by the occasional muted giggle from the ballroom outside. A world of stark contrasts. My heart thudded painfully, each beat screaming a desperate question. What could I, Ella, do in a world of opulence, where beneath the surface, darkness thrived? “Ella.” The soft, husky voice in my mind was familiar, comforting. Ema always seemed to speak up when I was in turmoil, a constant friend and source of reason. “These women… they need our help.” I closed my eyes, trying to still the tumultuous emotions raging within. “It’s not our world, Ema. Interfering might bring danger to us and them.” There was a pause, and when Ema spoke, there was a gentle conviction in her tone. “We are strong, Ella. We