The Other Side

TOLERANCE

Alora hid the pain as best she could. Tears threatened to fall from her sky-blue eyes as the pain increased and was becoming unbearable.

Just a little longer... she thought, as she sat alongside her parents at the table. Alora looked ahead, unable to look to her right at the mere thought of who sat there. 

As time passed, she was so focused on the pain that she didn't notice his departure from the room.

"Alora"

Her parents calling her name broke her trance and she glanced at them with distaste. 

Her parents were unpleasant people to be around and she loathed them. What happened to the loving, kind parents she once had? She would often find herself asking.

To everyone who knew her, she was known as the perfect daughter, sister, student, and friend. It was far from that. How Alora's parents treated their daughter was unlike how they treated their son, Atlas, who was more than cooperative when it was his time.

"Well done, Alora." her mother, Violet, spoke.

Alora silently nodded her head as she waited for her parents to leave the room. And as they left she could feel the atmosphere become more relaxing as she was then alone.

The silence was deafening but not for long. Alora could feel her eyes watering and pursed her lips together to keep from crying. She held her head down as a broken sigh escaped her. A tear slid down her cheek as she couldn't hold the tears any longer. The only sounds that were being heard throughout the room were the sobs from the young girl.
It felt like the tears were never-ending and she hated it.

Feeling weak. Vulnerable.

But she couldn't but whimper in pain as she looked down at her left arm and saw what she was dreading.

The Dark Mark.