N/A

Two

    
     Every muscle in my body was trapped in a cramp when I woke up from my nap on the floor. I stretched, which made the pain worse. The remaining marks from my boyfriend also didn't help. Every purple and red spot on my body sent a warm welcome each time I decided to move.
     I didn't realize that I had been on the floor for so long. The sky was fading into darkness and small specks of light shone through dark clouds. I yawned, decided to get up. The thought of refusing to shower for weeks entered my mind. I'm not sure how I survived on perfume and deodrant, but here I am. I did feel horrible, though, so I decided to get cleaned up.
      I turned on the shower and changed the temperature to the hottest setting. I wanted to boil in hell before I stepped out into this cold world. I took off my shirt and stared at my body in the mirror.
      Each one of my ribs poked through my skin, my waist was too thin, and I looked pale. I didn't feel hungry, ever. I must have forgotten to eat for a few days. Or a few weeks. I told myself.
      I also took a quick look at the scars on my body. The times my ex had hit me and the times I took a blade to my wrist were carved as memories on myself. I frowned at how many lines appeared on my body. Lines I created.
      I took off my pants, more scars peaked through my skin. Cuts on my upper thighs. These were longer, deeper ones. I teared up at the sight of it. Why couldn't I be pretty? Why couldn't I be like all of them?
     Once the shower reached the temperature of the Sahara Desert, I stepped in and let my body soak in the warm water. It was like a hug. Sometimes I wonder why I don't shower often, it's always so nice.
     I washed my hair thoroughly, as it desperately needed it. The pressured water hitting my scalp was relieving. I looked around for my body wash and noticed my boyfriends was still sitting there. Like an idiot, I grabbed it and lathered my entire body with his scent.

     I stepped out of the shower and dried myself off. I felt somewhat better, though I didn't look like it. I brushed out my hair, on occasion, it was a beautiful light brown-almost blonde color. But for the past year or so, it's been a dull, frizzy cloud. Hopefully it would return to its original state, I loved it back then.
     This was the first time I had taken care of myself in months. I brushed my teeth, put on some light makeup, and did my hair. I looked amazing.
      I got dressed into a simple tank with jeans. It was the late summer months so hopefully this would be comfortable.
     Once I had finished, I stared at myself in the mirror again. My appearance had completely changed. My eyes weren't dull anymore, the blue and brown smiled at me through the glass. I was beautiful.

    I wish my confidence lasted longer.

    My pretty looks only took me half way to being motivated, I still didn't have money. I sat on my bed, which was covered in a range of items from clothes to plastic. I pondered about what I could do to get an easy buck. My previous job had fired me because I skipped so many days. I was fine with that though, working retail killed me.
     I scrolled through my phone, looking for ways that a girl could make money without being scammed. The option that popped up the most? Using my body.
     I didn't like the idea, in fact, I hated it. Me and my boyfriend would never do anything sexual, and I was closest with him. After the four years that we dated, the closest thing to fucking eachother was giving a small kiss when he went to work. Or when he hit me.
     

     My leg bounced up and down anxiously. I needed money, fast. Not just to keep some roof over my head, but to live. I'n hardly alive when I have money, so how can I be alive without it?
     I was so used to him getting everything with his money. His money was our money, if I kept the appartment nice he would work. That was the deal. I sighed and looked around, I sure kept that promise.
   

     I stood up, kicking some dirty clothes to the side, and decided to find some building that had the obnoxious "We're Hiring!" sign. Grabbing my phone and appartment keys, I headed out the door and down the street. Silently, I begged the universe to give me an easy, but good paying job. Heaven knows that doesn't exist.
      Dragging my legs down the sidewalk, searching for a place to work, was exhausting. It was only until then I found a cute little cafe that had a chalk board out front with fancy letters spelling, "We're hiring! Information inside!"
     "What a relief!" I mumbled to myself, picking up the pace into the small shop.
     A cute little bell chimed and I was welcomed with a sweet-looking girl giving me a warm smile.
    "Good Evening! Welcome to the Elephant Cafe!" She beamed, "How may I help you today?"
     "Oh I was just..." I pointed outside with my thumb, "are you still hiring?"
      "Oh yes, of course! Hold on let me get the information!" She disappeared for a second and returned with a sheet of paper, "This is all the info you need! I just need your number and name!"
      "Oh right, I'm Octavia." I gave her the remaining information, then left with a wave.
     
      Maybe I could be happy after all.

    Don't get your hopes up, Octavia.
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We've got chapter two, folks!
Honestly, I'm super excited for this story. I'm trying my best to make it realistic, even if I have no idea what I'm doing LOL.

Feedback is appreciated!

Have a good day :)