THE INVITATION

"Do they still hurt?" Elena asked as she took off the band aid on Maria's thigh.

Maria shook her head in response and ran her hands over her skin. The bruises had finally cleared and it didn't hurt anymore.

"What about your eye?"

Maria blinked slowly and felt no pain coming from her eye lid.

"No, it doesn't hurt anymore."

Elena placed her hand Maria eye lid softly.

"Mm, the swelling has gone down too."

She withdrew her hand and continued taking off the band aid on other parts of Maria's body. Maria sighed and let her eyes wonder around the room. Before now, she had seen the room as a cage, a small place where she would be locked in forever. But now, she was actually taking her time to acknowledge how the room was beautiful furnished. She could finally see how much work Trevor put into the room, just for her. Maria's heart fluttered, knowing that Trevor thought about her enough to design a room specially for her.