When the door closed quietly behind Kelvin, Leila dumped the punishment and crawled into the bed. Her stomach was on fire and she couldn’t hold it in any longer. It was some minutes past nine, but her plan to keep calm until Kelvin left for his meeting went up in flames the moment the second bout of pain hit her.

The first day of her period was the worst. It always got better but the cramps would be completely gone by the third day. Bedrest helped. If she had to be at the office, she ...