70. Stop Being Mean

Riley tried her best to escape. She really did. It wasn’t her fault that the stairs got in the way and made her trip! She touched her ankle again and groaned as sharp pain shot through her body, intensifying with each step she took. She gritted her teeth and fought through the agony, determined to break free at any cost. But then, she was greeted by another locked door. “Fuck my life!” she screamed at the door as she jiggled the doorknob. Riley’s heart pounded as she frantically twisted the doorknob, willing it to turn, but it wouldn’t budge. The pain in her ankle was unbearable, each throb a cruel reminder of her failed escape. She leaned her forehead against the cold metal door, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Tears welled up in her eye. “Come on,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Please, just open…” But the door remained stubbornly locked. Riley slammed her fist against it, her anger bubbling over. She felt so powerless, so trapped. She limped back to the center of the room, t