Stitches and Scars

Chapter 2

Alina POV:

After an hour, I finally step out of the shower wrapping myself up in a plush towel. Heading towards my room I feel goosebumps all through my arms as I feel the air conditioner at full blast. Once in my room I search through my closet picking out some workout clothes. I put on a white t-shirt and some black leggings accompanied by some black running shoes.

Respira hondo Alina. Tu puedes hacer esto, es fácil, solo párate enfrente del espejo y cepíllate el cabello. Y vete. No es gran cosa, ¿verdad? (Deep breaths Alina. You can do this it's easy just stand in front of the mirror and brush your hair. Then leave. No big deal right?) 

I stand before the full length mirror that hangs on the bathroom door combing through the knots in my hair, but then I look. I really look at myself and my eyes start to water, my chest feels tight like I can't breathe, and I'm shaking. I want to cry so badly because I'm frustrated and angry that no matter what I do the results are still the same. 

Te odio! Te odio! Mira lo gorda que estas! (I hate you! I hate you! Look how fat you are!) 

I fall to the ground unable to contain my tears anymore, as well as the shaking.    

No es de extrañar que todos los que amas siempre mueran, ¿por qué alguien querría estar con alguien tan asquerosa como tú? (No wonder everyone you love always dies, why would anyone want to be with someone as disgusting as you!) 

Again I feel the tightness in my chest. I get up and run towards my room grabbing my purse and emptying its contents onto the floor until I find my vape pen. I slowly inhale and exhale the berry flavor waiting for the THC to take effect. I repeat the same action again several times until I finally feel my body start to relax in the process. When I've had enough I pick up my things and put them back into my purse. I find a hair band in between the process and tie my hair into a messy ponytail unwilling to stand in front of the mirror again. I grab my earplugs plus my purse and head towards the kitchen to grab a water bottle.

"Hola enana ¿a dónde vas? (Hey midget where are you headed?)" I roll my eyes at the annoying nickname Miguel had bestowed upon me.

"Solo voy a correr, gustas acompañarme? (Just going out for a run, you wanna come?)"

"You know exercise and me don't go together."

"Como se me pudo olvidar? Es tu peor enemigo. (How could I forget? It's your worst enemy.)"

"You know it."

"Well maybe if you started working out, you wouldn't be so out of breath whenever you bring the groceries from the car."

"You know you're starting to sound a lot like Carla, speaking of which have you seen her?"

"I saw her earlier today, but I haven't seen her since."

"Did you guys end up going to the flea market?"

"I may have slept in."

"Did you sleep through your alarm again?"

"Yeah."

"I swear I could blow a damn trumpet in your ear and you still wouldn't hear it."

"It's not my fault I'm a deep sleeper."

"Yeah when you actually sleep. Were you finally able to get some shut eye last night?"

"Not really so I ended up binge watching my favorite anime The Seven Deadly Sins."

"Again? Haven't you seen it like 20 times already."

"What I love Meliodas and Elizabeth."

"I swear your such a weirdo."

"I've been called worse."

"So did Carla talk to you?"

"About?"

"You getting therapy?"

"Not you too?"

"Alina we're worried about you."

"I already told you I'm fine."

"Kid I've known you long enough to know when something is bothering you so dont give me that bull shit."

I roll my eyes at Miguel. Genial ahora estoy recogiendo los malos hábitos de Carla (Great now I'm picking up Carla's bad habits.)

"Well like I told Carla, I'll think about it, but I'm not making any promises."

"That's all I ask."

-An hour later-

I feel the rise and fall of my chest as I attempt to breathe in as much air as possible, I look at my clock, angry at my results 

Maldita sea! ¡Todavía no es lo suficientemente bueno! ¿Por qué no puedo hacer nada bien? El Maestro no va a estar contento con esto. (Dang it! It's still not good enough! Why can't I ever do anything right? Master isn't going to be happy about this.) 

I make my way out of the gym and start running towards an abandoned factory that's probably about three miles out of town. By the time I get to my destination, my feet are killing me, and I'm gasping for air.

"You're late!" I turn around and see the man behind all the commotion, master. He was a man of short stature with bronzed skin and black hair, obviously dyed to make him appear younger, but I could see specks of gray tossed within his hair. He had dark brown eyes with wrinkle upon wrinkle across his forehead as he glared in my direction.

"Only by three minutes, gosh give me a break."

"What have I told you about talking back?"

"That one day it's going to get me in a heap of trouble."

"Exactly, yet you continue to do it."

"And your point is?"

"Well since you wanna be a smart mouth that's going to cost you an extra five miles."

"You can't be serious?"

"You wanna make it six? Now let me see if you've progressed any."

"Ummm my watch isn't working, so I wasn't able to track how many miles I ran today."

"Are you going to lie to my face?"

"I would never do that."

"Child you forget I can read you like a book."

"So."

"So how many miles did you run?"

"Nine," I say softly.

"How many was that I can't hear you when you mumble, speak clearly and look at me when I'm talking to you."

"Nine master." Silence. I hated when the master was deep in thought because I never knew what was going on inside that head of his. After a brief moment he finally spoke.

"I guess we are just going to have to train harder."

"What do you mean?"

"It means I want you here everyday at 7:30 am sharp."

"You've got to be kidding me? I already come in four days a week to train."

"Child I never kid," he said air quoting.

"Oh, come on master."

"No, child. Indeed you have learned much over the years, but there's always room for improvement and you my dear could definitely use some that's why this extra training would be beneficial. So what do you say are you in or are you out?"

"I'm in."

"Good, now that we have that settled you can start running. Now go."

-hours later-

When the master said I was going to train harder he wasn't kidding. I am definitely going to feel this in the morning. I checked my watch, 11pm. I started to make my way back to the gym so I could pick up my car and head home. I decided to take the short cut and go through the ally. There were only three lamp posts which barely gave off any lighting. At the end of the ally I noticed a man smoking a cigarette. Something about this stranger felt off. I was contemplating whether I should turn around and take the long way home, but my legs were too exhausted to walk another three miles so I decided to tough it out and proceed. I could feel the strangers gaze on me.

"What's a pretty little thing like you doing out here so late at night?"

I shifted uncomfortably,

ignoring his comment hoping he would get the memo and just leave me alone. As I  continued my descend I made sure my eyes stayed glued to the pavement. Again my gut was screaming at me to get out of there. Suddenly, I came to a abrupt halt. Two shiny black dress shoes appeared before me. I looked up only to be met with a set of lustful piercing eyes. The man was blocking my exit. I gulped taking a few steps back. 

"Come on beautiful where are you going?" he said while throwing his cigarette to the ground and stepping on it.

I took a deep breath trying to calm my erratic heart beat. Wiping my sweaty palms on the sides of my leggings. My anxiety only increasing each second that ticked by. Again I ignored him lowering my eyes downward and attempted to leave, but he continued to block my exit.

"Are you really going to ignore me baby?"

As hard as I tried to formulate a sentence no words would come out.

"Answer me you little b***h!"

I jolted backwards from his angry outburst. Again he was met with silence. I was far too scared to speak. Suddenly I felt a sharp pain across my face. He slapped me. I trembled in fear feeling the panic rise within me.