BEHIND THE FACADE R18

Home at Last.

_MIA'S POV_

My head banged with a thumping noise and I was unable to move a muscle. I straggle on the bed, blood staining the sheets I laid on.

I heard hurried footsteps coming from the hallway before Mrs Jenkins bursts in.

"No, no, no, oh my poor baby," she cried reminding me of my mom.

I miss my mom.

"Mia, look at me dear," she said stroking my hair then sighed a sigh of relief when my gaze shifted to her. Tears rolled down my cheeks and she wrapped me with the covers and embraced me.

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry," not sure what she was apologising for but it made me cry silently in her arms. She patted my back gently, her sweet scent soothing my senses.

I didn't want to remember but the image of Malcolm doing those things to me kept resurfacing in my memories and it won't disappear.

When my tears finally stopped flowing, she made me sit straight, it was then I noticed she had been crying too. She touched my swollen face gently, her touch featherlight, then she took an examining glance at my neck.

"I'll be back in a second," she said clearly holding back tears while I was too weak and exhausted to shed any more tears.

Mrs Jenkins went in the direction of Malcolm's bathroom. I looked down at myself, the tears I thought I couldn't shed threatened to fall but I held them back.

Malcolm made me into wrecking mess. I can't believe I loved that monster and I would be so pathetic to think I still loved him.

Few minutes later, Mrs Jenkins made me soak myself in a warm bath. I don't know the things she added in the water but it's scent was soothing even though it was nothing like the usual. It was when I came out of the bath did I realise how refreshing it was and how bad I ached and by that time, Mrs Jenkins had prepared fresh clothes for me to wear.

She applied some sort of balm on my swollen face and neck after which she took me downstairs when I didn't even have the appetite to eat.

"It's light and I made it just for you, eat up," she said softly pushing the plate containing steamed vegetables towards me.

I forced down a few spoons before accepting the cup of herbal tea from her after which she gave me a few pills.

After clearing out the table, Mrs Jenkins sat opposite from me and took my hands in hers. "Why aren't you saying anything? Talk to me," her fingers caressed mine, massaging gently.

"I need some space. I'm going to get some rest." Mrs Jenkins nods and stands up to help me to my room but I stopped her. "I can go on my own," I said earning a sigh from her. She nodded and I felt her eyes on me as I walked up the stairs.

Instead of going to my room, I went to Malcolm's room instead. The room didn't look like anything it did an hour ago. Mrs Jenkins had replaced the bedsheets, the whole room looked tidy and free from whatever happened. I wish I could be rendered free of the memory just like the room.

My eyes wandered across the room, every detail replaying in my head. I crouched then winced as my lower abdomen ached. Burying my head between my hands, I let the tears flow silently. Till I felt a hand pat my back.

I knew she would keep an eye on me. I let Mrs Jenkins pull me into her arms and my silent cry turned into sobs.

"Why did he do that to me? I deserved none it." I cried into her chest, Her warm hand caressing my back.

"I-I fucked up, I know I did but he shouldn't have done that to me, he shouldn't have."

"I know and I'm sorry for doing nothing to help."