And that alone made every step I took ahead of her feel heavier.

There were rooms upstairs. Warmer ones, prettier ones but I didn't think twice before I turned toward the hallway that led to the guest room on the ground floor.

Not because it was convenient. But because of her.

Stairs.
They didn't seem like much... not to most. But to someone whose body had been through pain and carrying weight it never should've, something as small as a staircase could feel like a mountain.

........

I remembered the way his fingers dug into my chin when I refused to smile.

The sting of cold chains when I said I didn't want to be touched.

The cage.

The darkness.

The bitter breath on my neck.

The forced silk dress I wasn't allowed to tear even though it suffocated me.

.......

Then, after a tiny pause, she held out her most prized possession —

“I’ll give you Dodo.”

The plushie.

“You can hug him when you feel scared. He’s my best friend. And now he’s yours too.”

Saanjh’s hands trembled for a second before she reached out.