CeCe stayed in the bath far longer than necessary, because stepping out meant facing reality again, and lately reality had been doing too much. The warm water hugged her body like it understood her stress, the soft petals floating around her making everything feel like a dream she didn't want to wake from.
Unfortunately, life had never once asked for her opinion before ruining her peace, so she finally dragged herself out with a long, dramatic sigh that echoed in the cave as a tired queen forced back to duty.
Water dripped down her skin as she wrapped the soft fabric around her body, her long black hair clinging stubbornly to her back. She stepped toward the mirror, fully prepared to admire herself again, because if nobody else was going to appreciate her beauty in this wicked world, she would gladly take up the responsibility herself—but the moment her reflection came into view, she paused.
