ARIA

I sat on the floor with my back against the bed. I pulled my knees tightly to my chest my arms ached .

The realization didn't come at all at once.

It never did.

It came in waves. Slow. Cruel ones, like a nightmare that kept replaying no matter how many times I woke up from it.

Every time I thought I'd reach the end of the thought it would circle back. More haunting than before.

I had done this.

Not alone. Never alone. But I had still played my part.

My life had always been like ...