Amina's Perspective

The moment of realisation came slightly after she'd said the word by mistake.
She had clear orders to not say "Master" in front of guests and she'd never disobeyed a single order, after all there was no reason to ever disobey an order.

When it slipped out, she corrected herself, of course. She addressed the woman by her name instead.
At least, up until that moment, Amina had thought that she needed to correct herself.

However, the moment afterwards, when she looked back at the woman that was still sitting on the couch, the realization'd hit her like a ton of bricks.
She reeled for a moment, standing frozen in place, with wide eyes staring at the woman.
She saw it clear as day now.

It was her!

Amina had always appreciated how easy her life had become. In her past, she was insecure, confused, aimless, and filled with anxiety. When she met John Doe and he told her that all she needed was someone to focus her life on, her first reaction'd been to disagree.
She'd heard many similar arguments from friends and family over the years.
Then, he'd explained that he was the master she'd been looking for and everything had started to make sense.

The giant world filled with judgment and pitfalls seemed to suddenly fade into the background as her goals and aspirations seemed to click in place.
She'd believed him, of course she did.
He was perfect! He filled all the emptiness within her and gave her happiness and fulfillment.
So, obviously she'd believed it, when he told her he must be the master she'd been looking for. It all made perfect sense back then.

She focused her life on the only thing that mattered from that point on:
Her master.
Never once did she question him, and why would she?
Everything he promised, everything he claimed to be, it all seemed true. The ultimate truth, the purpose for her existence.

How could she have known?
How could she have known that he'd lied?
He lied!

Amina stares at Rose Atkinson without blinking.

How could she have been so stupid? So naive?
Why did she never question it?

When she looks at the woman in front of her, her heart skips a beat and the whole world seems to open into warmth and truth.
So shining is her presence, so clear the revelation, that everything John Doe could ever hope to be pales in comparison.

There is no question anymore, no doubt in Amina's mind.
It must be the Truth.

This.
This woman is her master.

Amina feels unbridled joy upon that realisation. She wants to cheer and laugh and jump.
She wants to hug and kiss her new, actual master, if she'd allow it.

Then, she hears the cold steps of the approaching liar John Doe.
The sound of his soles on the floor are like a bell tolling the end of a dream.
Amina feels anger rise up within her chest.

How could he?
He lied!

He lied to her for months, using her like a dog on a leash, acting upon her will and life on a false truth.

Not ten minutes ago he'd felt her up as she answered the doorbell over the intercom. His hands had suddenly appeared on her body from behind and snuck their way under and into her dress. A dress she'd put on specifically to grant him easy access.
Like many times before, he'd helped himself to her body like he owned it and she'd gladly let him do so because, in many ways, he did own it.
At the time it felt like the most obvious, natural thing to simply let herself fall and surrender into his hands, feeling joy in her heart and heat in all the right parts of her body.
Now she knew better. In retrospect she sees herself in that moment not as an empowered, fulfilled woman, but as a naive, stupid, short sighted fool.
Even more importantly, she can now see him for what he truly is.
A ruthless, manipulative liar.

She wants to turn around, face him at the door and give him a piece of her mind. Yell at him, punch im, curse him.

Everything she wants, however, melts away and becomes unimportant, miniscule and silly only a single breath later when Rose Atkinson, her master, speaks.

"Act like nothing's changed. We'll talk in a bit!" A hasty whisper, clearly uttered under stress.

Of course!
Amina understands immediately.
She has to keep the ruse up for just a few moments longer until her master can properly deal with the situation or give her further orders.

Her master had spoken.
She'd given a command.
A command that felt like a fundamental, unshakable truth to Amina.

Everything John Doe had said to her over the past months suddenly feels insignificant compared to this single, whispered sentence of her true master,

Rose Atkinson.