Bruised, Not Broken

Chapter 4 - A Friend

Alexandra fell asleep while silently crying, hoping that maybe her dreams would be much better than her reality. She even skipped dinner, too afraid to step outside and face her family's sharp words and criticism again. She endured the long, lonely night, surviving only on a single biscuit she had kept inside her room.

Around midnight, her phone suddenly rang. It was Maria. Her bestfriend was checking in on her. A small, weak smile tugged at Alexandra's lips the moment she saw the name on the screen. "At least I have her" she thought. In this cold world, Maria was the only warmth she had left. She accepted the call.

"Hello Maria?" Alexandra said softly trying her best to sound okay, even though her voice was heavy and broken.

"Heyyy Alex! How's my favorite girl doing?" Maria's voice came through, bright but clearly filled with worry. "How is your knee? How's your ankle? Does it still hurt badly?"

"I'm fine, Maria... Really," Alexandra lied. Her foot still throbbed painfully, and her knee was still slightly bleeding, but the pain of what her family had said to her earlier was far worse. It was all she could think about.

But Maria, who had known Alexandra for years, saw right through her lie.

"Alex... come on, I know you better than anyone," Maria said gently, her voice soft and understanding. "You should atleast put some bandages or medicine on your wounds. And please... Stop trying to act strong all the time. You don't have to be strong infront of me."

She knew exactly what Alexandra was going through, the harsh words, the unfair treatment, the heavy burden she carried at home.

"Listen" Maria continued, her tone turning warm and inviting. "Since there's no school tomorrow, come to my house. You can come over, tell me everything that happened, and I'll help you check and clean your injuries properly."

"Really? Are you sure Maria?" Alexandra asked, her voice filled with hope and hesitation. She couldn't believe someone cared for her this much

"Yes of course! I'll pick you up right infront of your house. Don't worry about anything okay?" Maria replied happily, trying her best to cheer her up.

Alexandra felt her heart lighten up for the first time that day. She was genuinely happy about what her friend said. Finally, she could escape this harsh reality, even if just for a few hours. For a little while, she wouldn't be the unwanted girl, the burden, or the girl who was never enough. At Maria's place, she would just be Alexandra. And that was enough for her.

Alexandra finished arranging her bag for the next day. The news from Maria filled her heart with a soft, warm happiness—so much so that she found herself packing her things with a genuine smile. For the first time in a long while, she felt light, like a weight had lifted just a little.

Once she had packed everything neatly, she settled into bed, tucking the covers gently around herself. She turned off the lights, letting the quiet darkness wrap around her. Excitement bubbled up inside her like warm water. Tomorrow, she would get to spend the day with the only person who ever made her feel loved, safe, and truly seen—her bestfriend, Maria. She closed her eyes, already looking forward to it.

Golden morning sunlight filtered through the window, casting soft, bright streaks of light across her small room. Alexandra woke up shortly after, stretching her stiff limbs and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was only 6:00 AM. She knew everyone else in the house slept late, so she moved as quietly as a mouse, careful not to make a single sound as she stepped out of her room.

When she reached the kitchen, she noticed the table was dusty and a little messy. Without hesitation, she grabbed some tissues and wiped it clean until it looked neat and tidy again. A low growl rumbled in her stomach, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten properly since the night before. Looking around in the kitchen, she found there was very little food left—only one single egg remained in the cupboard, and a small amount of rice.

She started by cooking a small amount of rice, measuring it carefully so there would be enough for everyone. Then, she cracked the egg and cooked it into a simple, warm omelet. The smell filled the kitchen.

Once everything was ready, she took a plate and served herself a small amount of rice. She carefully cut the omelet in half, taking only one half for herself, and left the rest on the plate. Even though she knew they would probably not notice or thank her, she saved the rest for someone else in the house. It was just how she was—always giving, even when she had so little to give.

She sat down quietly, eating slowly, savoring every bite. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. And soon, Maria would be here, and that would make everything perfect.

After eating, she carefully washed her plate until it was spotless, then quietly headed back to her small room. A few minutes later, she gathered her courage and walked toward her auntie's door. She knocked gently, careful not to make too much noise.

"Good morning, Auntie... May I go to Maria's house later? She invited me over," Alexandra said softly, her voice laced with a little hope.

There was a long, heavy silence from behind the door. After what felt like forever, her auntie's voice finally came through—cold, flat, and uninterested.

"Whatever," she replied, as if Alexandra's question didn't matter at all.

A small part of Alexandra felt stung and disappointed by the lack of care, but she quickly pushed the feeling away. More than anything, she was relieved And happy, she didn't need their permission or their attention—she only needed to know she was allowed to leave, and she was. She could finally escape this cold house, even just for a few hours.

A tiny, genuine smile touched her lips. For today, that "whatever" was more than enough.

Maria arrived right on time, pulling up in front of Alexandra’s small house. They stepped into her car together, and as soon as the door closed, Alexandra let out a breath she felt like she’d been holding forever. Just being beside Maria already made the world feel a little less heavy.

When they reached Maria’s warm, cozy home, Alexandra greeted her best friend’s parents politely.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Valdez,” Alexandra said softly, a shy but genuine smile touching her lips.

Maria’s parents greeted her warmly and happily, their faces kind and welcoming. “Hello, Alexandra! It’s so good to see you. Make yourself at home—you’re always welcome here,” Mrs. Valdez said gently. For a moment, Alexandra felt what it must be like to be truly loved and accepted by family.

They went straight to Maria’s room, bright and comfortable—nothing like the dark, cramped space she was used to. Maria carefully helped Alexandra sit on the bed, then gently lifted her injured foot and rolled up her trouser leg. Her ankle was swollen, bruised, and dirty from the fall, and her knees still bore fresh scrapes.

Maria fetched warm water, antiseptic, clean cloths, and bandages. She worked slowly and softly, dabbing gently at Alexandra’s wounds. “This might sting a little,” she murmured, her touch incredibly tender, treating Alexandra like something fragile and precious.

As Maria cleaned and dressed her injuries, the kindness and care finally broke Alexandra’s defenses. Her eyes welled up with tears, and her voice trembled as she began to pour her heart out.

“They compared me to her again, Maria… my cousin Bea,” Alexandra whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. “They said she’s beautiful, smart, perfect… and asked why I couldn’t be more like her. They made me feel like… like I’m nothing but a burden they’re forced to keep. No matter what I do, I’m never enough. I try so hard to be good, to be useful… but it’s never enough for them.”

She choked on a sob, covering her face with her hands. “Why do they hate me so much just for being me?”

Maria stopped what she was doing and immediately pulled Alexandra into a gentle, tight hug, stroking her hair soothingly. “Oh, Alex… listen to me. You are enough—more than enough. You are kind, strong, beautiful, and you have a heart of gold—something Bea and the others will never truly have. They compare you because they don’t see your worth, but that doesn’t make you less valuable. You are my favorite person in the whole world, and I’ll never let anyone make you feel small again.”

She pulled back slightly, looked Alexandra straight in the eyes, and wiped away her tears. “I’m always here for you. You don’t have to carry it all alone anymore. This is what real friends are for.”

In the safety of Maria’s arms, Alexandra cried freely—letting go of all the pain, humiliation, and loneliness she had bottled up inside. And for the first time in a long time, amidst the heartache, she truly felt: she wasn’t alone anymore.