Kitten and his Criminal

2| Meeting A Fairy

*Talk about abuse

Mika

My body is on fire. The bruises that litter my body ache more and more with each step I take. To keep myself going, I repeat a sickening mantra in my head.

Wear your bruises like a badge of honour

Show the world that nothing affects you

The burning is almost pulsating. It's like wasps are ruthlessly attacking my skin. The worst thing is that there's nothing I can do. People my age, dream of falling in love or getting good grades. I'm a strange anomaly. My biggest relief would be to rest after a horrid beating. The image of spending the whole day in bed with food dances in my mind. Oh, and maybe some pain relief medicine. I didn't even get that luxury.

Work is always waiting for me. At this very moment, I'm at the hotel on a shift. My job consists of cleaning dishes in the kitchen and helping the cleaning department with odd jobs. It isn't the most glamorous thing but I don't care. Ultimately, it's a escape from my awful parents and terrible life.

I also love the hotel. This building could be something out of a magical book. For a boy that sleeps in a shed, this is literally Narnia. Glamorous and magical. The elegant chandeliers always pridefully gleam at me. Every time they shine, it's like they are winking. I'm in complete awe. The paintings and sculptures are a sight to behold . If I could, I would mindlessly gaze at them all day.

As I admire my favourite one, consisting of a beach with a beautiful sunset, I bump into someone. This causes me to clumsily fall to the floor.

I look up, shyly taking peeks at the man before me. His blond hair is almost white. It reminds me of the first snowflakes of winter. Graceful and delicate.

Oh my God! I'm in the presence of a literal fairy. My brain charges a million miles forward as I imagine both of us in a book together. Going on a quest to save the entire world. I giggle to myself. I would make an amazing fairy.

My fangirling like crazy clouds my mind. I fail to realise that we're in the real world. Reality hits me like a truck.

There is no such thing as fairies.

No adventures.

And absolutely no magic.

I'm embarrassing myself in front of a customer for a crazy fantasy. I quickly pick myself up, building up the courage to apologize. Hopefully, I won't get fired.

"I....I'm...rea...really sorry, I ...I didn't m...meant to hit y...you"

No reply. The silence kills me as he just stares at me, plotting to get me fired. That's something I couldn't allow to happen. I love this place. Without realising my tears start falling, until I'm full-on crying. I needed to fix this and fast. My only option left is to apologise again.

"I......I'm sorry, p....p....please."

At this point, I'm sobbing like a child. This job has been my lifeline. I couldn't care less about the money. For a few hours a day, I'm able to feel safe. To not constantly look over my shoulder and worry about getting in trouble. A terrible reality seizes control of my mind. I feel like I'm spinning.

I wrap my arms around my body and start rocking back and forth. This is a coping method, I have developed. To people passing by I probably look ridiculous. A freak spazzing out on the floor of a luxury hotel. The anxiety wraps itself around me like a boa constrictor. Not letting me breathe. Taking hold of my mind and body. Normally, I would win the battle, but this time my efforts to fight were failing.

Why do I always embarrass myself? What if my parents are right?

My mind could be compared to a neverending black hole. The thoughts were crazy demons that conspired to make me slip up. I'm pulled back into reality when I hear a voice.