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[ 2013 ]
SHE RIPPED THE IV FROM HER ARM AND THREW IT AWAY AS IF IT WAS ON FIRE. She had no idea where she was, or why she was there. Her eyes scanned the dark room empty of anyone but monitors beeping away. The one recording her heartbeat elevated dramatically. Fear enraptured her heart. She tore the wires from her chest and arms, dropping them almost as fast as she took to rip them off, leaving red marks in her wake. She bit back a cry as she kicked off the paper thin blankets that shielded her from the harsh air conditioning. Hurriedly, she threw her legs over the side of the bed and stumbled forward. Her head was covered in a thick fog, black dots invading her vision. She grabbed the IV cart before she could slip and wheeled herself toward the chair sitting empty in the room.
"What happened?" she asked breathlessly. Her dark hair fell into her face, her wobbling legs struggling to support her weight. Her lips remained parted as she struggled to breathe. Though her body felt as if it was shutting down, she forced herself to continue. She fought toward the door that was closed and most likely locked. She could vaguely see people walking past every few seconds, like she was positioned in a hallway. "Help me," she wheezed. She gripped the leather of the chair and used it as a crutch. Heavy, hot tears ripped down her cheeks. "Help me," she cried out, voice hoarse and whispery. What had happened to me?, she thought. She blinked, forcing her tears to halt.
"Here, try this." She flinched at the voice entering her mind. She could see the boy's face behind her eyelids. He looked so sweet, with a baby like face. He was young, like she was. She willed her feet to continue, taking step by step toward the door. "What's in this?" It was her voice. She grabbed the wall once she reached her destination. She had taken that drink. She took a drink from a stranger. Her other hand felt for the doorknob in the dark. "Just a little something sweet. Do you like it?" She felt the bile rise in her throat as memories from the night before began to resurface. Once she found the door handle, she forced it down and pulled the door open with all of her might.
She stumbled with the weight of the door, but steadied herself against it. The nurse's station was deserted, and the hall lights were dimly lit. She grabbed onto the doorway. "I feel a little dizzy." She shook the thought from her head with a trembling breath. Her feet once again began moving through the open space. Her head whipped in different directions in search for anyone she remembered; anyone who knew who she was. Instinctively, she reached for the locket that once resided around her neck to find that it was gone. "No," she whispered. Those tears returned. Her chest ached. "That's okay. I've got you." She reached for the wall closest to her to rest, using her other hand to wipe at her burning eyes.
Where was she even going? She didn't exactly knew. All she knew was that she needed to get out of there. She flinched as her throat began to burn. She ran her hand over it as a memory flashed within her mind. His hand clasped around her throat, pinning her against the wall. Her face was riddled with tears, mouth dry. She couldn't move. She was trapped. She choked back a sob and forced herself to move forward. She pushed off of the wall and stumbled toward the stairwell door. She wheezed with every breath. "I'll take care of you. I promise." She shoved open the stairwell door and gasped as the overhead light flickered on.
What had she done? She looked around her as the door fell shut behind her. The air in the stairwell was a lot colder than she had expected. "I'll make sure you feel good." She fisted her head before letting out a guttural groan. Her head pounded. Her eyes burned. She let her back hit the door and slid down it until she sat against the cold floor. Her hands slid from her hair to her chest as sobs ripped through her throat. How could she have been so stupid? After everything she had experienced with her company, how could she let her guard down so quickly? She scratched at her skin, leaving red marks behind every movement. "Damn it!" she shouted, her voice bouncing off of the empty walls. "Goddamnit!" She slammed her hand against the floor once, twice. As the pain in her fist began to grow, she resorted in punching the concrete flooring until her skin cracked and was stained with blood.
Her shoulders rose and fell with each labored breath. She slapped her palm against the bloodied floor and stared down at her tattered skin. Her tears stung as they plummeted from her tired eyes. "The Aurora Hong isn't as strong as they say," his voice whispered in her ear. "She's nothing but a whore. A pathetic child." Spit sprayed from her lips as a broken cry spilled from her. Her whole body trembled as the pain and the hurt from the night before replayed behind her eyes. She wrapped her arms hesitantly around her middle, allowing herself to feel comfort in her own strength.
She would get through this. If anyone could, it would be her. She got through her parents' sudden divorce, the fear of being used to entice older men. She never let her head fall, despite the pain and sickness she endured. She wiped her tears with a trembling hand, ignoring the stinging within her throat. "I'm okay," she whispered. Slowly, she began to rock back and forth, her eyes squeezing closed. "I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay."
—
rumi says!
i love hong aera with every bit of my heart. and she's right. she'll be okay.
this is the last prewritten chapter i have so lets all band together and pray that i get to writing. ✨ manifestation ✨
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