Dagmar's Blank Gaze at Dawn
Dagmar lay limp in my arms, her skin clammy against mine. The realization of what had happened settled over me like a heavy shroud. I had been too far, too slow, too helpless to stop them. Guilt and rage churned inside me, making my vision blur.
I lifted Dagmar gently, cradling her against my chest as I stumbled back toward the beach. She was so light, so fragile. I wanted to scream at the cruelty of it all, the helplessness of watching someone I cared for be violated in such a brutal way.
Back at our spot on the sand, I laid her down carefully, brushing the hair from her face. She didn't move, her eyes staring blankly at the sky. My heart ached at the sight of her, at the knowledge of the trauma she had endured.
I didn't know what to do, how to help her in this moment. All I could do was sit beside her, holding her hand in mine, waiting for her to come back to me.
It felt like hours before she blinked, her gaze slowly focusing. She turned toward me, her lips parted as if to speak, but no sound came out.
"It's okay," I whispered, my voice raw with emotion. "I'm here. You're safe now."
She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I...I don't know if I'll ever be safe again," she choked out.
I pulled her close, letting her rest her head against my chest. "You will be," I promised, my arms tight around her. "I swear it. I'll keep you safe, no matter what."
She clung to me, her body shaking with silent sobs. I held her, rocking her gently, murmuring reassurances into her hair. Nothing else mattered, not the sun on my skin or the waves crashing in the distance. All that mattered was Dagmar, and the broken pieces I would have to help her gather back together.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Dagmar finally stirred in my arms. She sat up slowly, wincing as she stretched, her body stiff and sore from the ordeal. I helped her to her feet, steadying her as she swayed.
"We should go back to the hotel," I said gently. "Get you cleaned up, checked out, and far away from here."
She nodded, her eyes still distant and haunted. We made our way back to the resort in silence, the weight of what had happened hanging heavy between us. At the hotel, I waited in the hallway while she went to the bathroom, turning on