𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘇 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀

CHAPTER 9

𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬
-𝗟𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗸 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘇

I woke up at 6 AM, having hardly slept a wink the previous night. I roamed aimlessly around my room, taking a shower in a state of deep contemplation. Tears streamed down my face, a familiar sight on mornings like this. Despite my efforts, I couldn't shake off the feeling of hopelessness.

I emerged from the shower, changed into my tennis uniform - a white skirt and a white polo with a hint of purple trim - the outfit fitting snugly on my body. Today, I had the responsibility of opening training, and I had decided to invite both Erik and Lyle to join me.

I settled down in front of my vanity, my reflection staring back at me. Yeah, I supposed I was reasonably attractive, but I had no illusions about being the most beautiful girl around. My father's frequent comparisons to other girls, though, always left me doubting my own looks. He had a knack for branding me both too thin and too fat. It wasn't true; I was fit, but his words still made me feel like a stranger to myself. I began running a brush through my hair, deciding to braid it to keep it out of the way while applying a light touch of makeup - just a bit of mascara and a dab of blush. I preferred a natural, understated look, rather than caking on tons of makeup. The girls who went overboard with their makeup though, I felt looked beautiful, but for me, I feel I looked clownish.

I didn't have much to do just yet, it was still very early in the morning and I wasn't planning to go anywhere until 4 PM. I groaned, resting my forehead against the vanity. As I glanced around, I realized there were still quite a few items left unpacked. I decided to spend some time sorting through the remaining boxes and finishing the process of getting settled in.

I picked up an old box, curious about its contents. I gently placed the box on my bed, carefully removing the lid to reveal various belongings, including a stack of photos, a few books, a journal and a small jewelry case. The sight of them brought back memories and emotions, leaving me deep in thought.

I continued digging through the box, my fingers brushing against soft fabric. My curiosity piqued as I pulled out a small stack of brand-new wristbands, still in their packaging. I examined them closely and realized they were tennis wristbands, i couldn't remember where I had got them.

I already owned a nice collection of brand-new wristbands for myself, so I didn't need the ones I had found. I tossed them onto my desk beside my tennis bag, which was resting on the floor. I did this to ensure I wouldn't forget to bring them with me to open practice. Perhaps either Erik or Lyle could put them to good use.

After a brief rest, I'd finished unpacking everything I had left to sort through. I settled back onto my soft bed with a sigh; it was only 10:30 AM, which seemed much too early to be awake. I left my room and walked downstairs, each step on the polished marble echoing softly in the empty house. I sauntered into the kitchen and whipped up a refreshing smoothie.

I leaned against the kitchen counter, taking sips of my smoothie, the coolness of the liquid slowly waking me up fully. I glanced around the large, opulent kitchen, the silence of the house making the space feel even larger. I felt a strange mixture of restlessness and boredom, unsure of what to do with the rest of the morning.

After another hour of idling and boredom, I put on my shoes and snagged my keys before stepping outside to my car. I had decided to go see my mother at the hospital; I figured I might as well, since I had plenty of time on my hands.

I slid behind the wheel of my car and turned the key, the engine roaring to life. I pulled out of the driveway and started driving, my mind briefly replaying the events of the previous day. With a quiet huff, I pushed the memories aside and focused on the road ahead, steering my car towards the hospital.