The Vortex

There was always the before, and the after. In the middle was The Vortex.
In the Before, she could be doing a lot of things- reading, playing, watching cartoons.
In the After, she could be studying. Or taking a shower as she washed herself clean, wincing from the pain, and crying. And throwing her semen stained knickers and clothes in the dryer so Mom won't know.
The Vortex was where the bad memories went. She didn't want to remember. She wanted to think she temporarily left her body and took off into space, a parallel dimension.

The Vortex was never to be opened, by anyone. It was her dirty, shameful secret. She had to survive it, somehow.

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