Sienna

The weekend dragged like time itself was punishing me.

No phone.

No iPad.

No laptop except the surveillance-controlled one in the living room—which I refused to touch unless homework threatened my life.

I moved through the house like a ghost.

Quiet.

Invisible.

Caged.

Dad barely spoke to me unless it was to remind me:

“You’re grounded. Don’t test me.”

Lena tried being soft, checking on me once or twice, but even she didn’t dare go against him.

Saturday melted into ...