Falling for Forbidden

the weight of her reality. Between university and her various jobs, she had little time to breathe, let alone dream of a

d her of long hours and aching feet. She served students who barely noticed her presence, their conversations floating around her as if she didn't exist. The o

many fake smiles she had forced. She left the café with a small paycheck that barely covered h

lace in the scent of old paper and ink, in the neatly stacked shelves that provided an

the girl w

thought she'd have

gnoring the stares, the hushed conversations, the cruel assumptions. They saw h

rst was ye

d inside, the dim lighting and heavy scent of alcohol wrapped around her like a suffocating blanket. The bar was crowded as

ignoring the leers that followed her. She had learned to navigate this world

table. His voice was slurred, his eyes glazed with intoxicati

remained composed. "I'm working

ke another step, a firm

ay when I'm ta

that moment, all she could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat. Befor

warned, his voice sh

Amara exhaled shakily, forcing herself to move on. This wasn't the first t

t of the bar, the cold air biting against her skin. The shift had been long and draining, her body aching from hours of endless w

in the cold air, and exhaustion weighed heavily on her limbs. She just wanted to get home, to curl up under

he hea

voices, whispe

ege

e jokes as she walked past, who looked at her like she was something benea

?" one of them called out, hi

swer. Kept walking. Her hea

" another voice taun

ir footsteps qui

g in short gasps. She turned the corner sharply, hoping to lose them, but they foll

ds grabb

g and thrashing, but there were too many of them. The night closed in aroun

ly, the laug

the boys staggered backward, clutching h

n she s

l, dressed in dark clothing, his presence exuded an aura of quie

his voice low yet carry

in their smirks faded. Then, o

eins. She opened her mouth to speak-to thank him-but the stranger didn't look at her. Without a

got the chance

, sleep di

mares did

ms rang in her ear

ifeless body-c

The suffocating si

t clawing at her mind. She pressed a trembling hand against her chest,

she had to leave for university. The moment

th someone

aved her. Maybe

looking for an

wed her throug

t didn't matter what they thought. She had

se wasn't done

r barely looked at her

fired,

disbelief settlin

d with a casual shrug. "Said you ha

t, but the words died in her

nother battle s

e weight of the world pres

No safety.

mares were on