Broken Memories [I Did it for You - Book 2]

17

For the first time in days, Scarlett was finally beginning to feel like herself again.

Once Doctor Yun had deemed the girl fit enough to stop being monitored by himself and the nurses, he bid Scarlett a farewell, making sure to shake Yoosung's and Emjay's hands before he left, wishing them all the very best. Since then, Scarlett took up the courage to take her first shower since the incident. She couldn't even remember when she had last been able to wash. Had everyone at - that place - allowed her to wash, or had she been kept as their prisoner that entire month whilst not even allowing her the decency to maintain her hygiene? As much as the girl didn't want to think about it, she was almost positive that they had also stolen that simple privilege from her. It was evident with how much Scarlett became used to her own body odour. She couldn't even smell the urine or vomit on her old clothes, making her forget that they were even present, and the fact that the blood and scabs from all her wounds were caked on her skin, almost looking like crusted, dry scales.

Standing under the hot water that trickled down her body, Scarlett almost sobbed openly. Not only did the realisation dawn on her that she'd been terrified of having every daily task such as eating, drinking, and maintaining her hygiene taken from her for the rest of her life, but she also realised that she'd never be able to shower normally again. Well, for a while, at least. But now, as she hugged herself whilst standing under the showerhead, Scarlett felt scared and vulnerable. If anyone attacked her right now, she wouldn't be able to defend herself. She suddenly felt angry. She shouldn't have to feel like this while showering. She should feel safe, just like everyone else. The thought made hot tears sting her cheeks that were even hotter than the warm water of the shower.

"Are you okay in there, Scarlett?" Emjay called through the door, unlocked so that if Scarlett were to panic, Emjay would be granted permission to rush in and help.

Scarlett smiled. In times like these, the girl became certain that Emjay had the superpower of reading minds. She always seemed to know when Scarlett was in trouble.

"I'm fine!" she called back and drew in a deep breath, the hot moisture of the shower hitting the back of her throat, almost choking her in the process.

Once Scarlett had dried, she stood in front of the tall mirror in her new bedroom, gleaming at the new clothes Emjay had driven out to buy for her. A few of the items had been a tad too big, but Scarlett loved them all the same. She loved baggy clothes. They helped her feel free and less restricting. Her favourite which Emjay had bought for her was a brand new beige-coloured turtle neck jumper with the sleeves dangling past her knuckles, allowing Scarlett to bundle up her hands within the soft material of the sleeves when she felt cold or insecure. To go along with it, Emjay had bought her a black skirt with frilled ends, and a pair of bark-brown Mary Jane platformed shoes that fitted nicely with her pair of thigh-high black socks.

"Thank you so much, Emjay!" the girl squealed with delight before spinning around and giving a surprised Emjay a huge bear hug.

"It's no problem at all!" Emjay spoke through a series of giggles. "Once you feel safe enough to go outside again, I'll take you shopping with me and fill up your wardrobe a bit more"

"Yeah, though it's sad that all my clothes at my old flat were basically ruined. I can't believe they'd do that. Was torturing me not enough..." Scarlett trailed off, feeling tears prick her eyes.

"Well, sod them all! They're a complete waste of space, the lot of them!" Emjay exclaimed, pulling Scarlett back to the present. "We're going to get you a bunch of new clothes and you're going to look amazing in all of them and there's nothing those lowlifes can do about it!"

As lunch came and went, Scarlett felt that she was finally getting her strength back. After she first woke up amongst the RFA, Scarlett could barely stay awake for hours. Even when she tried to force herself to stay awake, she could feel her eyelids growing heavy and she'd doze off, sometimes not even waking up until the next day. It was frustrating as she wanted to be awake and alert, to be ready for whenever danger struck her again. But now, Scarlett could stay awake all day. She could even climb the two flights of stairs in the building without feeling as if her lungs were about to burst. It made her realise how little food she'd been given whilst she was taken as a prisoner. Although, they gave her plenty to drink...