DESDEMONA

My leg trembled on the floor. It felt like my body was sinking in the water, I could feel the heavy stares from the people present, I wondered if they heard what he just said to me now.

It was hard enough for me to feel him strip me bare with just his eyes, but now… making comments about how I looked on my knees made my self-esteem shatter into tiny pieces. I felt like trash that should have been thrown away long ago.

My chest burned, shame clawing its way up my throat. I bit the corner of my lip until the taste of blood touched my tongue,...