chapter 1

Adina's head throbbed with pain, and she felt discomfort in other places she'd never experienced before. Her entire body seemed to ache. The question echoed in her mind, "Why am I hurting all over? What did I do to feel so tired?" With great effort, she slowly opened her eyes, her groggy vision attempting to make sense of her surroundings.

As her gaze wandered, the room's color appeared off, unfamiliar, and disorienting. The walls didn't match her apartment's familiar hues. A perplexed thought crossed her mind; someone had changed the color of her apartment. How and when had this transformation occurred? She was unable to recall any such plans.

Squinting and straining, she discovered that her room had expanded, growing bigger than ever before. Her eyes swept around the unfamiliar space as her confusion deepened.

Suddenly, a realization struck her. There was a presence beside her, the sensation of weight she'd felt earlier. At first, she attributed it to her neighbor's cat, that pesky feline that occasionally found its way inside her apartment. But, as her groggy senses sharpened, it became unmistakably clear. There was a man in her bed.

With a sudden surge of realization, she corrected her earlier assumption – she was not in her bed at all; she was in a stranger's bed. Panic welled up inside her. Adina desperately tried to grasp what had transpired the previous night, but her memory was a void, a blank canvas where details refused to emerge.

Anxiety coursed through her veins as her heart raced. She couldn't fathom what had transpired. Now was not the time to sift through the fragments of the previous night. She needed to leave, to escape this perplexing situation, and ensure that her mysterious bedmate remained undisturbed and unaware of her exit.

Adina gingerly slid her hand away from the stranger's waist, making every effort to not rouse him from his slumber. With utmost caution, she peeled back the blanket that enveloped her body, her movements silent and deliberate. Her companion lay facing the other direction, concealing his features from her view. She couldn't get a clear look at him, but the strong contours of his back suggested someone who diligently cared for their physique.

A rush of cold air swept over her naked body, and Adina's initial disorientation transformed into bewildered concern. Why on earth was she undressed? The memory of disrobing didn't register in her consciousness. Tentatively, she maneuvered to the edge of the oversized bed, but a sharp ache in her intimate regions reminded her of the unpleasantness she endured. It was too painful to remain seated for long.

Fumbling with her surroundings, Adina searched for something to cover herself, casting an occasional wary glance toward the slumbering stranger, fearing his abrupt awakening. Her hand finally connected with a fabric, and she swiftly draped it over her body. It turned out to be the shirt of her mysterious bedfellow, a shirt that felt uncomfortably oversized.

As her disoriented mind struggled to piece together the events of the prior night, she surveyed the room in search of her belongings. The vibrant blue dress she remembered wearing to the party, or the clutch she'd brought with her, appeared nowhere in sight. Her phone, though, she discovered resting on the dresser. However, the rest of her possessions seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Confusion gnawed at her as she attempted to recollect how she had ended up in this bed. Yet, no matter how hard she wracked her brain, no coherent memories emerged. A persistent, throbbing headache compounded her disorientation. She glanced back at the bed, her eyes focusing on an ominous red stain that marred the white sheets. Her initial instinct was to cry, to confront the dreadful reality of the situation, but she knew that wasn't an option. She had to leave this unfamiliar place, piecing together the events of that disorienting night would have to wait.

As Adina contemplated her next moves in this bewildering situation, her gaze settled on an open drawer, not entirely exposed but just enough for its contents to catch her eye. Inside, neatly arranged, she discovered an assortment of men's underwear. This was an unexpected yet somewhat fortunate find, given her predicament.

She wrestled with her options, hesitating between principles and necessity. She had never been one to share undergarments, finding the idea somewhat discomforting. But now, faced with the looming prospect of walking through the streets, half-clad with only a borrowed shirt to her name, she had to make a pragmatic choice. It was either make use of one of these men's underwear or risk embarrassment and exposure.

Swiftly, she chose the lesser of two discomforts and pulled on a pair. It wasn't an ideal situation, but it would have to suffice for now. Adina, clad in the oversized shirt and the borrowed underwear, made her way toward the door. Before leaving the room, she conducted a quick yet diligent scan, searching for any signs of her own belongings. Her dress, her clutch, any remnants of her personal effects – they remained elusive.

As she reached the door, she paused, her hand poised to open it. Adina couldn't afford the luxury of an extensive inspection of her surroundings; her main concern was to exit the premises as quickly and discreetly as possible. Carefully, she closed the door behind her, masking the sound to avoid rousing any potential onlookers.

In her haste to depart, she refrained from indulging her curiosity about the place where she had spent the inexplicable night. Her immediate priority was to secure a means of escape. Adina retrieved her phone, intending to summon an Uber and get far away from this bewildering scene. She powered on the screen, hopeful to establish a connection, but her expectations crumbled in an instant. No service, no network, a dead zone.

Despite the frustration that welled up, Adina knew she had no choice but to venture further, away from the vicinity of this enigmatic house and toward a spot where her phone might regain a connection.

Adina's cautious descent down the unfamiliar staircase echoed with hushed, calculated steps. She was acutely aware of the need to avoid attracting any unwanted attention from potential occupants of the house. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, her steps quickened, carrying her towards the front door. It was a relief that the house remained steeped in slumber; its occupants oblivious to her clandestine exit. As she crossed the threshold, Adina finally allowed herself to exhale a breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding.

Her momentary respite, however, was interrupted by the sight that greeted her in the driveway. Last night, when she had arrived in the company of her so-called 'friends,' the place had been teeming with a variety of vehicles. Now, it lay deserted, save for one or perhaps two cars. The stark reality that she would need to embark on a long and uncomfortable journey to the highway gnawed at her.

Draped in the stolen pants, her feet bare against the cold ground, Adina couldn't help but rue her decision to venture to this party without securing a proper way home. The predicament she found herself in was a testament to the hazards of trusting the wrong people.

Pausing for a moment, she used her phone's limited connection to check her options. Trembling fingers navigated through the taxi app, the pale glow of her phone's screen a feeble beacon in the dark of the night. The app provided a glimmer of hope, promising that the closest taxi was just five minutes away. Yet, amidst all the chaos and confusion swirling in her mind, she couldn't yet fathom the full extent of what had transpired the previous night. Her immediate need was to return to her own space, cleanse herself, and try to piece together the shattered remnants of her memories.

When the taxi arrived at the designated location, Adina entered without uttering a word, folding her legs beneath her and resting her head on her knees. She felt a profound sense of loss and injury; something had been taken from her without consent. She was not naive enough to ignore the grim reality that she had likely been violated in her vulnerable state. As the taxi carried her to her own street, she paid her fare, opting to forego the elevator and opting for the solitude of the stairs. In the quiet corridors, she encountered no one, a providential silence for which she was immensely grateful. At her apartment's door, she unlocked it with a fervent prayer that her roommate had chosen not to indulge in one of his movie marathons that night.

Adina stepped into her apartment, her heart sinking with a sense of apprehension and relief. The fact that the apartment lay quiet was a small comfort. Perhaps her roommate, Ruan, was sound asleep, a conclusion she almost dared to embrace. As she closed and locked the door behind her, the room was plunged into darkness. Her sense of comfort, however, was short-lived as the gentle light of a tableside lamp flickered to life, illuminating her friend's worried face.

Ruan's deep concern was evident in his voice as he inquired, "Where have you been, young woman? Your phone was unreachable, not picking up my calls, and I had no idea what happened. I was worried."

One look at Adina was all it took for Ruan to sense that something was gravely wrong. Her ashen face and disheveled appearance spoke volumes, but her confession brought the dam holding back her emotions crashing down. "I think someone raped me," she stammered amidst her sobs.

The compassion in Ruan's eyes was palpable as he asked, "Should I take you to the hospital or the police?" His genuine concern only intensified Adina's emotional breakdown. Her tears flowed even more profusely, mingling with the anguish that had been building up inside her.

"And tell them what?" she choked out between sobs. "That I don't even remember or know who it was because I was unconscious. I am twenty-six for goodness sake, and I was careless enough to let someone else get my drink."

In the midst of her anguish, Adina wrestled with the overwhelming sense of guilt and shame that came with breaking the promise she had upheld for years — her commitment to remaining a virgin until marriage. She hadn't wanted her first time to be thrust upon her, especially in such a violent and violating manner. Her helplessness only deepened her emotional turmoil.

Ruan recognized that the hospital was not the best solution at this moment. He offered an alternative: "Okay, so no hospital. How about this, I will run you a bath, and you can soak and get your thoughts together. Then you can tell me everything you think happened when you are feeling better." Adina nodded, too overwhelmed to voice her gratitude.

Ruan moved with a sense of urgency as he bustled around the kitchen. Adina could hear the cabinets banging, and the refrigerator door opening and closing as he searched for something. When he returned, he held a glass of water and two Advil pills. The knowledge that Adina had a splitting headache, something she hadn't even mentioned, was beyond her comprehension. However, having a friend who anticipated her needs in this moment of vulnerability was a comforting presence.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion, as she obediently swallowed down the pills.

Ruan's voice was tender as he advised, "Lay your head down for a while. I will come to get you once the bath is ready." He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before stepping out of the room. Adina welcomed the brief respite, yearning for the throbbing headache to subside as she awaited the promised relief of the painkillers.

One of the perks of having a gay roommate, Adina reflected in the stillness of the room, was the unique blend of protection and understanding they offered. Ruan's presence in the apartment not only served as a deterrent to potential intruders but also provided her with unwavering emotional support during difficult times. Their shared bond had begun when Adina responded to his roommate advertisement four years ago, a decision that had forged a deep friendship.

In a state of exhaustion and emotional turmoil, Adina must have drifted into slumber without realizing it. Ruan gently roused her from her restless sleep, whispering, "It's ready, sweetheart," as he led her to the awaiting bath.

With utmost care, Ruan helped her disrobe and guided her into the warm, comforting embrace of the bath. The water was infused with the delightful scents of chocolate and vanilla, a fragrant reminder of happier times, though it provided little solace in her present state.

As Adina soaked in the soothing waters, her headache began to recede, allowing her fragmented memories to resurface. The gravity of what had transpired gnawed at her, and she couldn't hold back the tears that welled up within. It was Helen who had gotten her the drink, assured her that she would be taken to the bathroom, and promised a place to rest. Helen was the one who had abandoned her, drugged her, and left her alone in a perilous situation.

In the midst of her sobs, Ruan entered the bathroom, offering a comforting presence and his unwavering support. "It's okay, honey. I am here for you," he reassured her.

Tears streamed down her face as she confessed, "It was Hellena. She did it."

"Did what?" Ruan inquired.

"She drugged me and left me in that room," Adina revealed through her anguish.

Ruan wasted no time in condemning Helen's actions, saying, "That woman had it all planned, didn't she? She was jealous of who you are and what you have, something she could never attain. That's why she did it."

Adina's voice wavered as she lamented, "I didn't even have the chance to enjoy my first time."

In a futile attempt to offer solace, Ruan stated, "I know, sweetheart. Let me help you bathe. Then you can try to get some rest. I won't promise that it will be any easier tomorrow, but some sleep will help you gather your thoughts."

After Adina had been gently dried and dressed in her pajamas, Ruan guided her to bed. He handed her a pill with the reassurance, "Take this; it will help calm your nerves. We'll talk more when you wake up."

As Ruan pulled the covers over her, Adina's exhaustion finally caught up with her, and she succumbed to the solace of sleep.