Broken Pieces

CHAPTER {16}

AKARI

At 2:31am, I woke because I was wet and I thought I had accidentally peed myself. I stood up and went to the bathroom to clean myself but when I removed my pants along with my underwear, I realized I had started my period.

I was relieved that I wasn't pregnant as I wouldn't have known what to do. With all the assaults I had to endure, I found myself always worrying if I was pregnant. The first time I was pregnant was when I was fourteen. My mother was not happy at all and neither was I.

She made me get an abortion which we both agreed to. It was a traumatic time for me as I found myself thinking about growing a child in me and having to take care of it. I was young but I did know how to take care of myself but a baby was another thing.

I undressed myself, removed my boot and went into the shower. I did a quick wash and soon went out with my robe on. I took my bloody pants and soaked them in washing powder and water in my sink before I took them to the washing machine.

I looked under the sink and opened the cabinet and I was relieved that there were pads. I grabbed a packet and opened it, I took one and exited the bathroom. I put the pad onto the underwear and changed into sweatpants and a hoodie, not forgetting my boot and flopped onto the bed.

I took my phone and went to TikTok. I grew a liking to it as it did a good job at distracting me from my thoughts. After a while, the cramps kicked in. At first they were mild and bearable but with time I couldn't even breathe without feeling pain.

I decided that it was probably going to be like this for the rest of the day and I needed water, lots of it. I got out of bed and made my way to the kitchen, it was currently 7:03am, so not everyone will be awake at this time. As I got to the kitchen another wave hit me and I doubled over in pain.

I got used to it pretty fast but the pain was still there. I prepared myself a jug of water to last me the day as I was not going to go out of my room. I hated my period because I always got hungry. Hungrier than I've ever been. And when I get hungry, I eat and I never stop.

I always gained more weight during my period and it was usually the time my mother would give me food and she'd give me a lot. I let out an irritated sigh when a bit of water splashed onto the counter as I moved it.

I put down the jug and went to wipe it and I was doing so, someone walked into the kitchen, I looked up and saw Armano. I said good morning and he nodded in response. I continued to wipe away the water and from the corner of my eye, I saw Armano taking pots.

I figured he was about to start cooking. "Do you need any help?" I ask as I didn't want to be rude. I'm living in their house rent free, it's the least I could do. "No, not really," He responds as he begins to take out ingredients.

"Well your food is amazing, I was wondering, maybe you could teach me?" I ask as I was genuinely interested in the way he cooks his food. "That I can do," he replied and I felt happy he agreed though the happiness didn't spread to my face as I was still emotionless.

He begins to tell me to help him take ingredients and I did as I was told. Another wave hit me and this time I kept a straight face as to not be too vulnerable and weak in front of Armano.

He ordered me around the kitchen and I did as he asked and when I was cutting up vegetables a sharp pain coursed throughout my entire body causing me to flinch and cut my finger in the process. I groaned in pain as the feeling still resided in my body but was only present in my lower abdomen.

"Are you okay?" I felt Armano behind me, I turned around holding my bleeding hand and his eyes slightly widened but returned back to normal within seconds. "Let me see," he says holding out his hands and at this point the blood was now dripping on the floor.

I nodded and he led me to the sink and told me to hold my hand under the water as he went to get a first aid kit. When he came back, he told me to come sit with him by the dining table.

He selected out the alcohol wipes and grabbed my hands and placed them in his lap. He opened the packet and looked at me, "This might sting," he said but the pain in my abdomen was too much for me to even care, for me to realize that he already had my hand wrapped up.

He taps my hands, signaling me to remove them from his lap. I had my hands on his lap. Why I feel so comfortable around these men, I will never know and I will never like it. Men were the cause of my mental scarring, the cause of my fear and discomfort. I hated men.

"Akari?" I was brought back to my senses by Armano calling my name. I looked up at him as he was standing up, I hummed in response, "I said, you look in pain, are you okay? Is it your hand?" He asked concern evident in his tone.

I shook my head, "No, I'm on my period." I replied, I never had a problem with telling men I was on my period because there was less of a chance of getting assaulted as some men consider it disgusting. "Oh..." he said, "Do you want me to get Neiva or...?" He asks and I shook my head again, "It's okay, we can go back to cooking." I reply standing up and the pain came back.

"No, you're not cooking if you're in pain." He stated as we walk back into kitchen and from his tone, I could tell that it wasn't up for debate. "Okay, the can I watch?" I asked hoping he'd say yes and he nods and goes back to cooking.

I thought back to how he reacted when I hurt myself hurt and put myself in the same situation but with Zachariah instead. I couldn't even bring myself to think about the monstrosities he would do. He seemed to be the one who hated me more than everyone else.

I tried to think about why, maybe because I looked too much like my-our mother and he had a bad past with her. It was hard to believe that I actually had brothers. I thought all my life I was going to be alone after my mother would have eventually died but I was wrong.

It's no different from being alone when no one loves you. Domenico just pities me and I guess Armano is just nice. I thought Alexandros was the same but that was proven wrong when he called me a prostitute.

"Akari?" I was brought out of my thoughts when Armano called out my name. I look up at him as I was sat on the island chairs. "Are you sure you're okay? I can call Neiva and she'll help you." He said this time the concern showed throughout his face.

I shook my head again and he sighs and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I don't mean to bother you, but can you please make the coffee for breakfast?" He already looked like I said no but I stood up from my chair saying, "No problem." In the process.

As I was making the coffee, Domenico walked in along with Alexandros and Neiva. Alexandros was looking down at his feet as he walked towards me as Neiva poured herself a glass of water from the jug that I placed on the island and Domenico sat by the dining table and went on his laptop.

Alexandros finally made it to me and he cleared his throat and I gave him all my attention. "Listen, I'm sorry for calling you a prostitute, that was uncalled for. I was hungover and very tired, I wasn't thinking straight." He said nervously and looked to the side to where Neiva as standing and so did I.

She was giving him the deadliest glare I have ever seen in my life as if daring him to mess up and Alexandros was looking genuinely scared. He looks back at me, "Um, I hope you can forgive me?" He finally said and I nodded, "I forgive you."

I genuinely did because I understood, he just wasn't in the right mindset. Soon breakfast was ready and I helped Armano dish out the food into serving dishes and went to sit down so the maids could bring in the food. I actually ate my food and for the first time, I kept myself under control and I actually felt satisfied and not uncomfortable.

Maybe I can be okay.