The cold of the hard porcelain tub was a stark contrast to the almost scalding water that enveloped Carla's naked frame. She was in a trance like state as she watched the misty steam rising from the water's surface, completely unaware that her body was lowering further into the tub. Her skin was already red from the heat of the water, beads of sweat prominently forming across her forehead as the humidity in the room increased. The cruel and vicious words of her family and neighbours were ringing loud in her head, shrouding any semblance of self awareness or control she had over her own mind.

"Murdering bitch!"

"Rana would still be alive right now if it weren't for you!"

The silence in the bathroom was almost deafening to her as the lack of an audible presence only allowed the voices to increase in volume. The harshness of their tones ripped through her head; her own inner speech already having passed the point of even attempting to fight back against them. She could do nothing else but accept what they were saying as the truth. Despite the familiarity of the voices, sounds that were once comforting to her, she felt totally disconnected from them; numb and emotionless as they continued to berate her. She had silently pleaded with them for forgiveness, to accept her for who she was and not judge her by what she had done, but no matter how much remorse she was able to muster up and offer the barrage of abuse just kept coming.

"Drop dead, Carla."

"Go to hell!"

She was no longer able to discern what voice belonged to who, when they had said it or in what context it had been received. The internal assaults continued, the vile words of hatred and loathing relentless; there was nothing she could do to stop them. As the steaming water tickled her chin she made no effort to stop herself from sliding further down the tub. Her arms remained stationary by her sides; any strength her legs may have once possessed now non existent. The recurrent abuse in her mind was physically crippling and she was done trying to fight it.

"You think of you always and anyone that gets close to you pays the price; Paul, Liam, now me. You've destroyed us all."

The more she tried to ignore the screaming the louder it got; more recognisable voices forcing their way into her subconscious and slowly taking control. A sudden surge of pain shot through her temples and she almost believed that the voices were desperately trying to rip their way out of her head and take on a physical form in front of her. They had already conquered her mind, there was no telling the pain they could inflict on her body. But she didn't care. She didn't care about any of it anymore because she deserved everything that was happening to her. There was no form of torture too inhuman for her because the pain and suffering she forced onto others was tenfold to any pain she had ever experienced herself.

"It's your fault…you made me do it. Carla…"

The sound of his voice polluting her mind was enough to make her blood run cold. She gulped as tears escaped her eyes, their journey shortened by the water level that had risen to her cheekbones. He was always in her head and despite all of her best efforts she could never get him to leave. There was no way out. She was surrounded, ambushed by every harrowing memory she bore and things would never change. She squeezed her eyes shut as her fragile body travelled further into what would soon become her liquid filled coffin. Her long raven locks that had clung to her skin was now flowing effortlessly around her head, dancing in sync with the gentle rocking of the fluid that surrounded her. Her skin glided along the tub; further, further, until she was fully submerged.

Suddenly everything was still; silent.

The voices stopped, the mocking had ceased and she felt calm for the first time in weeks. The water no longer burned her skin but became somewhat welcoming as it swallowed her up. She kept her eyes shut tight, her tears no longer distinguishable from the liquid that surrounded her. Her body felt weightless; the burden of every mistake and selfish act she had ever made now gone, just like that. Somewhere, deep down, she knew she should be fighting, shaking, clawing at the rim of the tub to break free from the water that had completely engulfed every inch of her, but she was too tired to fight. It was time to accept defeat. She parted her lips and allowed the water to slowly enter and fill her mouth before inhaling with one quick gasp.

Her airways were consumed by the water as it travelled to her lungs within seconds. The stinging sensation in her chest overwhelming as her body instinctively tried to fight against it and she couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal that it could do such a thing as going against what her mind had already decided. But she remained still, motionless, for at last she was able to feel herself slipping away from the heinous reality of life. The pain soon subsided, a moment of relief washed over her almost as rapidly as the water had as her constricted lungs became more relaxed and the heaviness of her head disappeared. She didn't need to keep fighting anymore. At last it was over. At last she was free.