#task 54

Drew sat down on the couch in her therapist’s office. They got through the hellos and how are yous before they began talking. “You have done so well, talking about what it was like when you were in the cult.” Her therapist said, writing down a few notes. “You don’t talk about before then, though - when you were being trafficked.” His tone wasn’t harsh, he was trying to get through to her that she needed to explain some of the things that happened when she was younger. The things she tried to forget on a daily basis. “Make yourself comfortable, close your eyes and tell me one of the  memories you have.” He murmured.

Drew closed her eyes and rested her head on the arm of the couch. “Here goes nothing.” She mumbled, taking in a deep breath. “This was the first time I was ever sexually abused.” She noted, taking a deep breath. “I was fourteen, it was my second summer on the road with bands.” She explained, chewing on her lower lip. “I was used to cooking for bands. Doing their laundry, selling their merch. It wasn’t until… that day, I knew this agreement I had with Thomas was not what I thought it was.” She said quietly. “I didn’t know that the band had paid for me. They were the first band to fork over five grand to keep me for a month.” She sighed quietly. “It was a normal day.” Her voice broke slightly, and she cleared her throat. “I had done all the chores on the bus, I was sitting with the drummer - smoking. They gave me a drink, I think it was drugged now - I was dumb then.” She went on. “I drank the whole glass, I felt funny. I thought it was just the alcohol, then I remember waking up and being carried to the back of the bus, where the bed was” She told him. “I thought they were just going to let me sleep it off, I was stoned out of my mind, I thought.” She shifted slightly on the couch, letting her fingernails dig into the couch cushion.

“Go on, Drew -you’re doing so well.” Her therapist said quietly, she could hear him writing on his notebook. “What happened after that?” He questioned.

She coughed out a chuckle and shook her head. “I think you know what happens next.” She muttered.

“Tell me.” He urged, and she exhaled.

“All I remember is waking up to a sharp pain.” She said, nearly silent. “Obviously it was my first time, I was fourteen years old, and here’s this twenty something year old man on top of me,” Her voice broke again. “When I think about it, I can still smell the alcohol on his breath.” She said quietly. “I can feel him petting my hair, telling me I’m such a good girl, telling me that this will be a daily thing while I was on the bus. It turned into hell for me.” She mumbled. “I blacked out again, after that. I truthfully think it was my brain helping me out some.” She told her therapist, before her eyes opened again.

“I woke up after that, I didn’t know how long it had been. Hours, probably.” She shrugged. “I went to get dressed, found my panties torn to shreds, my dress was crumpled up in a corner.” She murmured. “I got up, put my dress on and took the dirty sheets off, they had blood on them.” She explained. “Made the bed, then came out of the little room, to be greeted by Thomas and the drummer. They applauded me.” Tears finally slipped from her eyes. “They said I was such a good girl, that I did so well, they hadn’t had a girl react so well. They told me I was born to fuck men and I was in the right place, the whole band was interested in a taste of me.” She said, nearly in a whimper. “That’s when it all changed. That’s when I became Thomas’ star sex slave.” She laughed, though it held no humor. “I was the perfect slut.”

Before anything else could be said, Drew grabbed her purse. “I’ll see you next week.” She said quietly, wiping her eyes, then she put on sunglasses and stood like she hadn’t just told a horrific story. “Just bill me for the whole hour, I know it hasn’t been that long but it doesn’t matter.” She said, stepping out of the office, closing the door. She exited the building, smiled for the paparazzi like nothing had happened. She was good at hiding what she had been through, maybe that’s what drove her crazy.

1) knees-up = un party rumoroso dove le persone ballano; 

2) defiance = atteggiamento di sfida; 

3) defy = resistere, opporsi a; e.g. the president has defied  demands from his party to resign;

4) demand = richiesta;

5) ebb away = svanire; e.g. the  tides  ebbed  at  noon;

6) tide = marea;

6) buy something = bersi qualcosa; e.g. the policeman didn't buy the suspect's story;

7) bunion = alluce valgo;

8) thrilled = emozionato;

9) maple = acero;

10) show up = presentare;

11) sloop = barca (a vela);

12) basin = lavandino (bagno), lavello (cucina);

13) break of day = alba;

14) stair = scalino;