No. I sleep like a log.

The events of the day prior granted you a full night's rest without interruption. You were so drained that not even Alicen bothered you- not even in your dreams, where you thought she was going to be the most active if you were too tired to do anything in reality.

You flipped yourself over, expecting to see Flora, but that’s when you realize that you’re alone and that it’s sunny outside. You sigh, now feeling alone. You suppose neither Amari nor Flora had to exert themselves too much yesterday. Even for yourself, you wouldn’t have been so tired if you didn’t have so many orgasms in such short periods.

You flip over, this time to investigate the time. You thought it was early in the morning, but the digital clock told you it wasn’t even 9 in the morning. So, you laid on your back and stared at the ceiling, feeling no desire to leave the bed. Not yet, at least. As you relaxed, you started to hear voices. It was muffled since it was coming from the living room, but you were willing to exert some energy to listen to the conversation.

“—where else to go,” Flora’s words were barely caught. “I’m at a dead end with my life. Without my family, I’m nothing.”

“You can’t think like that,” Amari’s voice was soft when she spoke. She came off as rude or annoying to you most of the time, so you forgot how soft her voice could be. “You’re overthinking your past. You’re letting it control and dictate your thoughts.”

A few seconds of silence pass, but Flora eventually continues. “I’m sorry. I… that just isn’t true. I need my mom, my dad… it’s scary without them. I want to talk to them. I want to listen to them and have them hold me again.”

“They’re the ones who put you in a situation, remember?” Amari said. “When you go back to them, you’ll just return to being their property.”

“‘My dad didn’t want that. Mother didn’t either. They wanted me to be safe. But I listened to my husband and traveled away from where I was the most protected,” Flora said. “They were giving me freedom before I married. I was just too ignorant to notice it.”

Amari sighs. “Flora, you’re 24. You belong to yourself. You don’t need anyone telling you what’s good or bad. You’ll grow up faster on your own and learn how to make those more significant decisions in life.”

“I can’t. Not like this, can’t you see?” Flora says hopelessly. “I can’t do anything that you guys do. I can’t hurt anyone. I can’t lie to anyone. I don’t want to do any of this. It’s ruining me, Amari. I’m losing myself. You told me you’d bring me back, and now it sounds like you want to change me.”

“You’re getting it all wrong,” Amari sounded sincere. “I see so much potential in you. You don’t have to stay with the syndicate or me. Your parents are going to keep you from doing anything, though.”

“They love me, though!” Flora shouts. “If living with my parents means I get to be taken care of and live my life without worry, then I’m OK with that!”

Amari doesn’t follow up with anything, so Flora continues. “Life is scaring me. I don’t want to grow up any more than I already have. I miss being naive. I wish I could forget about all of the stress and just sleep in my own bed and continue being shielded from everything in this god-forsaken world. I’ve seen enough of it for my entire life.”

“I keep looking for good things, but I’m only finding worse subjects to fill my head. The people are corrupt, and the environment is cruel. There’s no hope for a girl like me out here. I’m too fucking soft. Too fucking scared to accept it. I’m done, Amari. I’m begging you now. Please, before I go crazy. Take me home. Please!”

“You’re being historical now,” Amari finally says something. “If that’s how you feel, I’ll give you some space. I have to go and get a few things before we go back to the others. And please… Don’t talk to Warren, OK?”

Flora doesn’t say anything, and eventually, you hear the front door closing, leaving you alone with your thoughts and Flora in the other room.