A Spark Of Hope (#Wattys2016)

CH 1;

A couple of months earlier.

"Sarah. Wake up, honey." she said as she kissed my forehead.

I recognised this scent, this voice, this warmth and coldness. I slowly opened my eyes.

"Sarah. Its already late. What were you doing last night?" she said with a frown on her face.

I sighed.

"Im sorry. I was surfing the Internet last night."

"Get up and take your bath. Then, come down. Your aunt and her daughter are here." she said as she pulled me out of my bed.

"Do I have to meet them?" I said with unsatisfied expression on my face.

"Sarah." Mom glared at me.

"Fine, fine." I said as I closed the door and ended the conversation there leaving my room all quiet and silent again.

I sighed.

I tidy up my room and went inside the shower and take my bath.

I wore my shirt and a sweater on top of it and a pair of trousers. I tied up my hair into a bun.

"Im done." a smile formed on my lips.

I went down the stairs and entered the kitchen.

"Oh my. You're all grown up, Sarah." She hugged me.

"Well yeah, its been a while since i met you, aunt Mary." I hugged her back.

"Sweetheart, you're all beautiful now. Lily is in the backyard. Im sure she wants to meet you." she smiled.

Lily is my cousin. We used to play together a lot back in the times when we were kids.

I went to the backyard.

"Hey, Lily." I patted on her shoulder and smiled.

She looked at me

" Who the hell are you?" she said with "Ew. Dont-touch-me" face.

"Um. Im Sarah. Your cousin?," I smiled awkwardly.

She scoffed and flipped her hair in a cocky way while looking at me.

"Oh? Sarah. I remember now. What happened to you? And eww?? Wtf are you wearing? So lame." she insulted me.

I glared at her.

"I dont really care about my looks. I like it this way." I replied.

She made an unsatisfied expression on her face.

"Yeah, right. You like it. But guess what people think about you Sarah? Im not being mean tho. Im just honest. Sarah, you're ugly. You're stupid. No one will likes you." said her bluntly.

I stood there. Shocked. Who would have known that my best cousin who used to play with me, who used to compliment me now insulting me with nasty words.

"Why? Why did you say such things? I know im not good enough. I know im not beautiful like you. But you dont have to insult me like that." I replied.

"Ugh. Whatever, loser. We're not even friends anymore so dont talk to me, ugly."

"Shut up!" I shouted and I ran into my house and entered my room.

I slammed the door with anger.

"Fuck! What the hell is wrong with me? I shouldnt let her words take over my mind!"

I leaned against the door and looked at the mirror on the wall. I stared at my reflection for a long time. For the first time, I looked at my reflection on the mirror with hurtful words in my mind.

"I hate what I see. She's right. No one would love me. Not even myself. I will never be good enough for everyone." I said as tears streaming down my cheeks.

I heard a knock on my bedroom door.

"Sarah. Your aunt and your cousin already want to go home. Sarah?," Mom said.

I didnt answered her nor I replied to her. I just leaned against the door, silently suffering the pain that is hurting my heart.

"Crying made my chest hurt. I guess, I'll just be in my room and call it a day since tomorrow is the first day of my high school journey." I said as I shed my tears.

I looked at the mirror once again. I can never look at my refletion the same way anymore.

"I am ugly." I faked a smile and end the pain by going to sleep.