Heal Me

Chapter 4

At least I didn't have to deal with Dad. I slump out of my covers, not distinctly remembering when I had put them on. A thin light shown through my window as I got up to stretch. Now... it's time look at the damage. 

I take my glasses that are on my night stand and put them on, but not before looking in the mirror. There is a very unpretty purple and red bruise on my left cheek. I sigh heavily as I take the powder my mother had given me and pocketed it, knowing I'll use after I rinse my face. Another day, another unseen mystery... I'd always tell myself just to be hopeful that today won't turn into a total s**t show. Dad's probably at work while Mom is cooking her famous dreadful watery scrambled eggs. 

"Welp, I can only sleep so much. Time to revisit hell itself." I glumly mutter as I walk into the bathroom. I feel drained as if the extra sleep had took x100 of my regular energy. I only shower about 4 times a week to conserve the water bill: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Today's Tuesday, so it's a no shower day. 

I squirt soap in my hands and I rub my face with it, taking a loofah and scrubbing it all over. I can taste its bitter flavor as I rinse the suds away in the sink. I look up into the mirror slowly, as if god would magically remove the purplish bruise that acted like a reminder of how dumb my life is, but lone and behold, it's still there like a trophy. I sigh as I pull out my mother's powder and rub it on my left cheek, feeling a smart sting everytime i would touch it. 

After it's partially concealed enough to not bring too much attention, I walk out the bathroom and into our living room. 

"Hey, how bout you actually give a hand here? Before you turn into a zombie and go straight to that computer." 

"Have you forgot about the check I had handed over yesterday?" I mutter, walking into the kitchen as my mother shoots a glare like daggers. She chooses to ignore my comment though, which is a first. I see from my peripheral vision that her eyes flutter towards me, aimed at my hidden bruise. 

"Did he do that?" She asks, going back to cutting the celery. 

"I tried to make it less noticeable." I answer matter of factly as I grab the plates from the cupboard. 

"Well you did a shitty job of that. You just used powder?" I nod, not really wanting to talk about it anymore, but of course she had to keep it going because its mom. 

"Come with me." I sigh drastically as she walks out of the kitchen, expecting me to follow her. I do so anyway and trail her to her room, where she motions me to sit while she scrummages through her dresser. 

"Okay i've got it." 

"What's that?" She comes over with the tube until I can properly see it. 

"Concealer?" 

"Yep. This works a hell of a lot better than some powder." She squirts some onto her finger and dabs it lightly on my left cheek. She grabs one of her soft brushes and gradually layers the concealer over my cheek, the sensation of the product feeling really heavy on my skin. Even though it still throbbed, it felt kind of nice, like a massage for my cheek.  After a few moments of her dabbing here and there, she sighs heavily. 

"I told him not to put another hand on you. I thought if he saw less of you, he wouldn't hurt you." 

"He came home early yesterday and I didn't know until he opened the door." I answer. My Dad hadn't hit me in weeks after I started barricading myself in my room at the time he'd get home, which is like around 7-8. 

"Still ain't right. But if I try to talk about it with him again, you know what will happen." She pushes a piece of my hair behind my ear as my shoulders slump. 

"Yeah, I know... I should be getting ready for school, the bus will be getting here any minute." She nods, taking the concealer back to her dresser as I walk out the room to my own to retrieve my backpack. There's nothing my mom can do to stop this either. I know that, so I really just accept it as my life and move on. I always would think of my future, where I will be in a few years. First of all, I would be like Ms. Foecher, having a little house in a somewhat quiet neighborhood with no one to share it with. It's not like I'd find any guys that like me. 

Maybe I'll get a few cats... maybe. 

I hear the bus beep outside and run towards it, ready to begin another hellish day. 

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"I can't believe the dance is coming up!" Tyffiny squeals in her usual popular girl voice. Its 6th period, which means I'm sitting behind the popular teens for my last class. Brian, Tyffiny's boyfriend, sighs heavily as he continues to search through his phone. 

"That's great babe." He mutters. 

"Are you even paying attention?" 

"Yeah, yeah." He continues to absentmindedly scroll through his phone as Tyffiny's face becomes red with anger. I mean, what did she expect? The only reason they got together was because most of the school were basically shipping them. 

"Know what, I'll just go talk to Tyler then." Tyffiny fumes as she gets up from her desk and walks halfway across the room to said Tyler. Brian doesn't even look up. 

As the bell's about to ring, everyone starts to pack their things in their backpacks. I guess today was tamed, I only got bullied twice. The teacher raises his hands in the middle of the room, coaxing everyone to remain silent at their desks. 

"Wait, wait everyone! Before you all go, there's a special announcement I would like to give." 

Everyone groans as Mr. Goldenberg walks to his door and opens it. 

"Everyone, meet your new classmate Dennis Mathews."