Chapter 22 Game Of Control

• Steam billows around me as I step out of the shower, wrapping a plush white towel around my body. These long, hot showers have become my sole refuge, a small relief from my mounting stress. While I'm acutely aware that my situation could be far worse, I often find myself wishing for a more effective relief. Simultaneously, a nagging voice in my head questions if I'm being ungrateful.
• Maybe I am lucky, all things considered, to have ended up here. It’s hard to really wrap my head around the possible “pros” to my situation, given the circumstances. But ultimately, at least I can say that I am alive. And that’s more than I can say for a lot of people… such as my parents.
• A soft sigh escapes my lips as I retrieve the brush from the bathroom counter. I slowly work it through my hair, watching droplets cascade from the ends of my wet curls. My hands, shoulders, and cheeks are flushed a bright red—a testament to the scalding shower I've just taken.