(This story is Chapter 3 in the series "Grace's Release". To start at the beginning please see "Grace's Release Ch1: First Wounds" to continue with Grace on her journey continue on to Grace's Release, Ch4: Finding Her Peace".)
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No, that isn't right at all.
I re-arranged the tiny candles along the window sill for what must've been the hundredth time and stood back, surveying the room.
Silently I reviewed the check list in my head, making sure I hadn't missed even the smallest of details. I smiled feeling rather pleased with myself, and began to make my way back toward the apartment living room. As I hurried through, I checked the in the kitchen on the way. Five thirty p.m., He'd be here soon.
While passing the large hall mirror I stopped to cast a quick, scrutinizing glance over my appearance. I had my long, dark brown hair pulled back, (just like He liked it) into a simple pony tail which fell neatly to the small of my back. It took me almost an hour of fussing with it to be sure that not a hair was out of place. I'd kept my makeup simple, just powder and mascara. He always says that He loves how it makes my soft green eyes stand out with my long lashes. Not pausing to review anything below the neck of my half naked body, I hurried to finish getting ready.
I looked at the clock in the kitchen, it read 5:47pm, and he'll be here before I know it!
As I crossed in front of the mahogany desk in the living room, I stopped and retrieved the familiar black velvet bag from the top drawer. Bringing it to my place in the floor, I withdrew a slender black leather collar. It was simple but sweetly decorated with silver studs, equally spaced apart. Feminine but in the same way it reminded me of why I was there. Somberly, I removed the delicate silver chain I always wore, (placing in on the floor in front of me) and fastened the collar snugly against my skin in its place. I smiled to myself as I felt the cool of the leather caress my skin.
Next, I deftly removed my watch, pulled from the bag a set of soft hand cuffs, and made quick work of slipping them over my wrists, reworking the Velcro so they were secure.
Finally, I reached into the bag and found my last treasure, a pale pink mask, small enough to cover just my eyes, and trimmed in a darker shade of pink. Smiling, I ran my fingers across the raised letters of my name embroidered on the front, reading it softly to myself, "Grace".
I removed what remained of my jewelry: rings and earrings, and placed them inside the bag with my necklace and watch. Then I quickly replaced the bag into the drawer where I'd found it and returned to my place one last time in the center of the living room facing the door. My change was complete; I had removed everything of myself and prepared for the evening to be His.
Taking one final glance over the room, I knelt in my place, and silently slipped the blindfold over my eyes. What came next was what I'd expected but still, no less unsettling. As soon as the blindfold brought me into darkness, my mind began the onslaught of painful memories I didn't want to face. As the memories continued pouring in, I became afraid that I would lose it, wanting so badly to remove the blinder from my eyes. But no, He knows what darkness means for me and He wouldn't ask me to wear it if He truly believed it would hurt me. So there I sat, trying to regain control of my mind as cool tears ran down my flushed cheeks.