The Acting Project

Battle Scars

13

Battle Scars

 “I think scars are like battle wounds-beautiful, in a way. They show what you’ve been through and how strong you are for coming out of it.”- Demi Lovato

    I go back to Paris. Every night Harry calls me. We talk for around 2 hours. He is touring for a bit. But during the day, I go to my roof, put in my headphones and blast the music. I feel distant from the world. I’m tired of lying to the people at my job here in Paris.

    The next day I go to my first job. I put on my Goth makeup and get dressed. Oh and I wear my horrible wig.

‘Where have you been young lady?” Asked politely in French by Madame Clouis.

“On vacation with my friends.” I smile weakly.

“Oh that sound like fun, did you have fun?” She smiles.

“Yes, I did, thank you.” I say.

“I’ll let you get back to work. “ She turns and walks away.

“Have a good day.” I say after her.

    Everyday I go to my 1st job, then go home and change for my second everyday do the same. For a whole week I feel like my normal self again. Harry comes to visit for a day. That makes my week, just sayin! Since I didn’t know he was coming. I open the door and there he is.

“Hello beautiful.” He winks. I scream.

He picks me up and spins me. He gives me such a romantic kiss, I felt like I was in a movie. Wow, that was very cheesy!

“Wow you need to go away more for the hello kiss.” He gives me another kiss.

“Hey you want to go to lunch?” He offers.

“I just made lunch, I have extra. We could go to the roof and have a picnic like old times.” I say.     We went to the roof and talked and laughed. We were ourselves again.

“Hey. Got a favor to ask you. Do you wanna be my date at a wedding?” I rush out really fast.

“A wedding? Where?” He sits up.

“Alabama. Oh and you would kinda be meeting my family.” I bit my lip afraid of him saying no.

“I’d like to go, when it is.” He smiles.  

“In two months, I think.” I squint my eyes trying to remember.

“We would be there for how long?” He pulls out his phone.

“2 weeks.” I say, waiting for the rejection.

“Ok. I would love to go.” He smiles and puts his phone away.

“Harry?”

“Yeah?” He looks over at me.

“I think I should tell you something. I’m not proud of it. Its part of my past. I don’t really like to bring it up.” I play with my hands. Whenever I talk about this I get really nervous. I guess its fear of being judged.

“Ok.” He nods.

“When I was 15 I was walking home from school and I was kidnapped. No one saw me get taken. I was tortured, humiliated and raped for 5 days. I have scars all over my back and this was the last one he gave me.” I pull down my shirt a little to show all the way from one shoulder to the other is a big scar.

“Why did you tell me this?” He takes my hands in his.

“I didn’t want you to hear it from someone else. And I felt like I needed to.” He hugs me.