Claire’s mind was consumed by a whirlwind of thoughts, a tumultuous tempest of emotions that threatened to drown her. The violation she had endured left her feeling tainted and stripped of her sense of self. The sheer disgust she felt towards her own body was suffocating, and the shame that coursed through her veins seemed insurmountable. Her inner turmoil raged, questioning how Jamie, the man she cherished with every fibre of her being, could bear witness to the desecration she had experienced. She wanted to shield him from the darkness that had seeped into her soul, convinced that her brokenness made her unworthy of his love and affection. How could she allow herself to be close to him when her own reflection in the mirror filled her with a profound sense of disgust? The mere thought made her nauseous.