Chapter 7. That Day: Stella

The old local library had always been my sanctuary, where I could be my true self. After a long day of sorting and dusting, I stepped out into the cool evening air.

As I walked down the familiar path toward home, a strange sound caught my attention. It was faint at first, but as I approached the side alley between the bakery and the hardware store, the noise grew louder—a mix of muffled moans and gasps.

"Ah... yes... just like that..."

I hesitated for a moment, then took a cautious step forward.

That's when I saw them. A woman, pressed up against the grimy brick wall, her skirt hiked up, and a man, tall and broad-shouldered, thrusting into her with brutal intensity.

"God, you feel so good," the man responded, his voice low and breathy. "Just a little more..."

Their movements were frantic, their breaths coming in heavy and uneven. Shock rooted me to the spot, my mind struggling to process the scene unfolding before me. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and disbelief.

Then, as if sensing my presence, the man's head turned. His eyes met mine. I felt a chill run down my spine. Quickly, I averted my gaze, my heart racing as I hurried away toward home.

My mind reeled with what I had just witnessed. Never in all these years had I seen anything like this on my silent walks home. And why here, in such a public, degrading place?

*****

A few days passed, and I did my best to push the memory of that night out of my mind. Things like this stick with me for a long time, especially in my uneventful life. One afternoon, as I was finishing up at the library,

I got a call from Sophie,"Come out now, I'm here."

I sighed and stepped outside of the library. I crossed my arms, tapping my foot impatiently. Why did Sophie have to drag me into her mess? I didn't want to meet anyone. I don't like people. They ask questions, and they recognize me.

When I was here, away from the world, I took pride in my demeanor. I wasn't just some topic of ridicule; I was someone who commanded respect. I deserved to be treated with respect. I could be normal, like any other human being. I could be my default self.

I darted my eyes around, looking for Sophie. That's when I spotted a man in a car. My heart skipped a beat when I recognized him. It was the same man from the alleyway, the one who had been fucking that woman against the wall.

His eyes were on me, an intense focus, probably trying to place where he had seen me before. I couldn't even tell if I was familiar to him from the alley or from my online video.

The way he looked at me made my skin crawl. A wave of disdain washed over me. Who did he think he was, looking at me like that? I narrowed my eyes and gave him a cold, dismissive look before turning away sharply.

Sophie, with her perfect timing, appeared next to me, her face alight with excitement.

"He's here. I want you to meet him," she said, pointing towards the car. "My fiancé."

My blood ran cold. Fiancé? Sophie's fiancé, the one who had just returned to town? My stomach dropped as the realization hit me. Sophie is rich, wealthy, her family powerful, and her fiancé, even more so. I had heard Sophie mention him countless times. I had just given attitude to one of the most powerful men.

My stomach churned. The man I had seen in the alley a few nights ago, his face twisted in pleasure as he ravished some random girl against the grimy brick wall... and now he was here, Sophie's prince charming. He was fucking other girls.

"Come on, I've been keeping him waiting for hours now." She said as she grabbed my hand and tried to pull me toward the car. I felt a lump form in my throat

"No, I saw his face from here. It's enough."

"What the fuck? Stop joking." She rolled her eyes and tried to tug me again.

"No, Sophie, I don't want to meet him. Don't force me." I yanked my hand from her grip and retreated back into the library.

*****