INFECTION 2.0

~ SEVEN ~

Tandy was several miles away from the nightclub before she realized she had not fixed her jeans yet. She was over halfway to her house before she noticed that at some point she had started crying. A glimpse in the rearview mirror showed the eyeliner around her eyes had run just a little bit. This upset her too, and she continued crying. She didn’t remember anything about the drive back to the apartment complex other than she couldn’t get home quick enough. It was only after she had the car in its designated spot and she was walking to the building’s back entrance that she paused to zip up. There was no one in the hall or in the stairwell and she was thankful for that. The girl kept her head down and walked with purpose anyway. The apartment door had no more than closed behind her and she was stripping down. Almost as if it was planned and rehearsed. Shoes, shirt, bra, jeans, and finally her panties hit the floor right in front of the sink a step before she was getting into the shower.

The water was much hotter than she normally would have set it, but at the moment she felt dirtier than any other time in her memory. It was not the heat that caused an uncomfortable sensation, though, there was a stinging feeling that came from low on her belly. For the first time since it happened, she was aware of two scratches the man left on her. They started low on her stomach and terminated well into her pubic area. It wasn’t the sting of the water and soap that made her stomach turn. It was the reminder of that creep’s hand touching her, grabbing her.

Tandy washed and washed then washed again. Somewhere in the process, she became aware that her left arm was hurting, too. Only then she remembered hitting it on the vehicle’s door mirror. The pain was not greater than the dirty feeling and she stayed in the shower. At another point, she did step out only long enough to get her toothbrush and toothpaste. She still hadn’t shaken the feeling completely, but something in her head finally convinced her enough was enough for one night. Her mouth got sore from brushing so hard. Her skin was flushed and reddish from having the water so hot. Without enthusiasm, she stood in front of the mirror and ran a brush through her wet hair. When it dried the almost black color would turn to a dark blonde. Normally she would wrap it up in a towel, but she just didn’t care at the moment. Even if she fell asleep with it still wet it wouldn’t matter. Somehow she knew that come morning she was going to be in the shower again. Her brown eyes were sad. They followed the brush strokes in the mirror. The anger was gone from them and sorrow had found its way in. Last Saturday she had a big fight with her boyfriend, tonight some prick tried to r**e her. A tiny, sad smile crossed her lips as a random thought suggested she buy an army helmet and barricade herself in her bedroom next Saturday. Bad things always come in threes, right?