What It Is

Chapter 5

I had changed in the bathroom into the black basketball shorts and splashed water on my face. Aaron had shown me a doorway before to somewhere more private that he would tend to my wounds. I blew my nose into the silk tissue paper and threw the remains into the silver waste basket before exiting. Aaron seemed nice, he was kind and friendly, noticing more than what I wanted to share on the surface.

And that scared me so much.

Quickly I scurried out of the bathroom and to the doorway next to the kitchen. I opened it a crack and slipped inside, the warm air slightly evaporating. The room was dimly lit up by a white crusty lamp, the pale blue floors trailing through as well. Dull gray bunk beds lined the walls, making the room seem smaller. A single window shone from the back of the room, showing the untamable ocean behind it.

"Aaron?" I squeaked.

"Right here." He spoke stepping in front of my trembling body. "Can you lay down for me or lean against the bed rest?" Motioning to the nearest bunk.

"Uh, um yeah." I stuttered. He frowned and examined my facial expressions, clearly upset.

"Who hurt you?" Aaron exhaled out of his mouth as I lied back into the mattress.

"No one." I whispered shaking.

Someone did

"You are lying." Snatching the first aid kit from the other bunk. "I'm just going to wipe away the blood with a washcloth right now over your ribs, sound good?" Aaron informed me.

"Okay." As he began to lift up the corner of my purple top up across my rib cage. "What room is this?" I questioned fully.

"Every year we have the whole grade come out and sleepover out here. The teachers usually plan two times a year that we all have to go out." Touching the warm navy blue washcloth over my cut. "Does that hurt?" He questioned sincerely.

"Can people stay here otherwise." I questioned with more curiosity trying to block out pain.

"Look who is more talkative." Aaron grinned. "The cabin is always open so I guess someone could if they wanted too." He remarked.

I grinned then, this was where I was going to go from now on. Aaron then took the washcloth off my rib cage and pulled out another antiseptic wipe. That made my face fall as he teared it open and I prepared myself.

"Why the sudden interest in staying here?" Placing the wipe over my ribs. I screamed involuntarily, but he covered my mouth. "Shh... I'm sorry." As the sanitizer burned into my cut. "I'm sorry Aurora." As he continued to hold his warm hand over my mouth.

My eyes became watery like when I watched a Nicholas Sparkles movie as he let it seep in my skin. Aaron then took his hand off my mouth and the wipe off my rib cage, grabbing a large bandaid after. I steadied my breathes as he poured cream across the band aid, setting it over my cut. I sniffled and sat up, my shirt falling back down again.

"This did not just come from a fall." Glancing at my legs with more care. Bruises littered them, my skin raw and worn. I suddenly flushed a deep shade of red as he analyzed them, placing each one on the bed with caution. He then glanced at my ankles and glared at me, knowing I had lied to him. "Who hurt you?" He rasped out.

"I-I already told you, I tripped-I tripped over a tree." Not lying to him. My eyes stared at the ground as I was laying across the mattress once again. 

"Don't lie to me, rope burns don't come from trees." He snapped.

I winced in fear and turned my head away from his gaze. I knew this was a bad idea, why did I do what he told me to do. I was stupid and worthless, he just needed to realize it.