It started with a lie.
My friends thought it was true. My parents thought it was true. Why shouldn't I?
I had been warned about you, the people who promised the world and then cruelly snatched it back, showing that it had all been an illusion in the first place. But, oh how naive I was to believe that somehow, my story would end differently.
"Just say yes," you whispered to me the first time we met. For me, there was no hesitation. I gave up everything in a heartbeat for you. I look back on myself and I want to scream. How could you be so foolish?!
"Meet me at the docks." you said to me. I arrived in the morning, so early that the fresh sky was still stained with the watercolour pinks and oranges of sunrise. The hoodie you had given me enveloped me, giving me a comforting sense of protection against the sharpness of the sea breeze. I felt on edge already, like I knew something was wrong. God damn it, if only I'd had the courage to run then. Run far away from you and your lies.
But soon it was too late. You pushed me onto a moving vehicle and took me to the middle of the countryside. I watched out of the window as all familiarity faded away into the horizon. Quickly I realised what I had let myself in for, and that it had not been what I signed up for. I grabbed my few possessions when I got off the bus, and you led me to a series of strange buildings.
So this is where it ends.
I was thrown into a room with seven other girls. We were crammed in so tightly that there was barely room to move. I felt the walls closing in on me, and I suddenly felt more trapped than I had already. There was one who was particular dirty- how long had she been there?
For the next four weeks, everything I did was controlled by you. When I ate my food, which was barely consumable, when I went to bed. I was barely allowed to do anything else. After two weeks, I realised that being dead would be better than anything you could give me.
I quickly realised that everything you had promised me had been a lie.
I wish I could go back to 2018 and take back every decision I made that led me to those fateful four weeks. But since I can't, I will spend the rest of my life mentally reliving it, over and over like a cassette until the film inside wears out and breaks. I know I shouldn't blame myself, but how can I not? How stupid I was to think that you wanted the best for me, to think that you wouldn't lie to me. To think that everything you said was true.
All I can do is use the time I have left on this world to make sure the same doesn't happen to anyone else. That will be my purpose, from now on. And so, I leave you with one last thought.
When NCS come to your school, and you think "surely this organisation can't rip me off?"
Just remember that their reply would probably be:
"No we can"
NCS ADVERTISING IS INHERENTLY DISHONEST TO SECURE THE NECESSARY NUMBERS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THIS TORY CREATION OF AN ORGANISATION
