The Victim

69|reborn

Kelly

I rinsed my face off with ice cold water, finding satisfaction with the temperature of the water. The more the tears streamed down my cheek, the more I forced the cold water onto my skin.

I lifted my head up and the first thing I saw was my reflection. My eyes were puffy and red, I didn't know how else I was going to explain myself to Angelo. The water was slowly drying up the more I stared at myself in the mirror.  I quickly patted my face dry with the nearby towel. I grab my usual face lotion  and applied it on my face.

"Kelly?" I heard his voice from downstairs.

I take one more look at myself in the mirror, forcing a smile as I came out of my bathroom. I exit my room and spot him over the balcony. "Angelo," It had been the first time I had seen him months. The rest of my Uni years were bittersweet.

And like always, I'd  ruined everything.

I walk down the stairs, barefeet in a white hoodie. All my blonde strands were tied up into a messy bun. I shoved my hands into the hoodie for warmth. I inhaled the scent that wasn't mine and tried calming myself.

I wanted to jump in his arms and cry. I wanted to let it all out and tell him I wasn't okay.  I wanted to to tell him I needed help.

"You still have it," he gestures to his hoodie that was like a blanket for me. "Yea, it's my favorite," I mutter. I hadn't dared to look into his eyes because I  knew he'd be able to see right through me. I didn't want that now. But I  knew he wouldn't make it easy for me.

"Look at me," The words come out of his mouth. My heart begins beating at a faster pace. "Kelly," I flinch. He inches closer to me and I stay put on the same spot. "Kelly, look at me," His hand makes contact with my neck, and like it hurt me, I moved away.

My eyes flicker up and that's when our eyes lock. He looks hurt but that all changes when he scans my face. "What happened?"

He moves closer and I move back.

"What happened to you?"

I wanted to tell him.

So badly.

But I couldn't.

"Who did that?" He asks, his eyes plastered on the bruise that was on my cheek. "And don't you dare tell me it's Serine because I know it wasn't,"

"And how would you know?" I raise my eyebrows. "Because I know,"

"Serine's so innocent  now huh?"

"Kelly- please," He almost seems exhausted. "You're right though. It wasn't her," I tell him. "It was an accident,"

"You really expect me to believe that? An accident doesn't look like that," I bite my lip.

"You can't fool me, Kelly,"

[FLASHBACK]

Her mother's hand flew directly across her face, making contact with her cheek. It sting but she was used to it. "Do it again," she yells. "Do it again because that's the only thing you can do. You're nothing but a sl-" She couldn't even finish her sentence and the hand flew across her other cheek once again.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that," her mother points at her. "I work my ass off for you to go wear those clothes that you're wearing. Your dad is an alcoholic. I have to take care of you, so don't you dare disrespect me because I don't deserve it,"

She knew her mom was right, even if she disapproved of what she did for a living there was nothing else she could do. "I'm sorry mom,"