So the sun seared her face into her soul.

There she sat — bound to the tree by the cords of the universal laws of fairness.
Her mouth silenced by truth.

“This was my last chance to get you, girl,” he shouted.
“I know you won’t listen to me again!”

And there she stayed. Still giggling. Still burning.
The tree gave no shadow —
so the sun seared her face into her soul.

That evening,
she would look tanned.