Bruised

Chapter 21

Matthew hadn't been there in a long time but once he walked inside the amount of good moments he could recall made him smile. The place was not too big but rather welcoming.

His favourite thing had always been the "Weekly quote" on the front window. Brenda was an amazing writer and had a phenomenal imagination. The whole idea behind the project was not only give people energy in the morning and make them smile but also let them be a part of it. Every day she would leave several blank post its so that people could add their own quotes, comment the one written or honestly write anything they wanted, one time, someone wrote they had never left the country but that the pictures from all over the world that were hang inside the café made him feel like he had been to all those places and thanked her for that, someone wrote Brenda's cappuccino was the best part of their day. From time to time when Matthew walked by he would stop and read every single post it and smile, then he would read the big words in bold right in the middle of the window. This weeks' quote was not original, actually it was quite a Tumblr-ish quote. "If I died tonight I think I would like to come back as your morning coffee. Just as strong and just as necessary".

"Choose one" he said and she looked around. The tables were clearly more fit considering they were only two. But the café was closed and the two vintage sofas right in the center seemed more comfortable. She sat down and he made his way to the counter "What do you want?" Stella raised an eyebrow clearly disapproving his action "I used to help here" He shrug his shoulders "Do you like hot chocolate?" He asked, it was indeed summer but at night it was quite chilly to say the least. "Could it be a cappuccino?" He nodded and a few minutes later he handed her drink and sat opposite to her drinking his.

"So what have you been doing?" He asked just to break the ice. "Practicing. Now that I was accepted I have to get better so I can live up to the expectations." He looked down for a second he almost forgot she was going to England once Uni started. "I bet everyone's really proud of you" he said instead of saying how proud he was.

"Pap wanted me to be a doctor but that's not really me. I can see myself working as a reporter, as a volunteer and help those in need, as be a musician to make people happy, doctor was never really what I wanted." He smiled softly, he had grown so fond of her that it was impossible to hide that the little things about her made him happy.

She asked him about Uni as well and in that same moment his smile disappeared "I wasn't accepted. It's over. I'll just focus on the boxing and try not to be kicked out just like always. Good things never last long with me".

"Are you sure though, mail gets delayed sometimes" Stella spoke just as quick as she realised she shouldn't have said it "Look, I'm not that smart neither do those universities accept guys like me, I knew it beforehand but Nate made me apply and I stupidly thought that could happen" the blue-eyed's voice was bitter and he was looking down.

"Whatever" Matthew decided to change the subject. "How many languages do you speak, Joe told me you were a polyglot?" She laughed "Seriously?" He did too "It's a very important subject why are you laughing" She wasn't sure what to say "A few" But how many were a few the boy wondered and asked the question once again "Look, I really had to learn a few languages when I was little" every word she spoke made Matthew want to know even more about her and about her life. "May I ask you something?" she mocked him "Yes my dear you may".

"How was your childhood, I mean, you obviously don't have to answer, on the other hand I must admit you intrigue me" he stopped just to make sure she hadn't take the comment as something bad and then proceeded "I mean not so many have the ability to amuse me and you certainly do" he ended up saying and as soon as he realised it he just wanted to find a place to hide.

But she smiled kindly as him "It's okay." Her eyes seemed to have sparkled again, for a few seconds he could see that type of green that reminds you of emeralds and makes you understand how lucky you are just to be able to look at her let alone know her.

"When I was born my biological parents had already split up, mostly because my father was a drunken drug addict, my biological mother knew she didn't have the money she needed to raise me so she decided it was better to give me for adoption." She decided to stop for a second, probably to catch some air and Matt looked right at her as to check if she was able to continue but on the contrary she was absolutely emotionless.

"You've probably read stories or watched movies about kids who are given for adoption, about the institutions and how hard it is to live there. Well it's worse. Once you are old enough to speak it's every man for themselves. You have friends of course, don't get me wrong, some of the best people I have ever met lived with me in institutions, but you never know if you will be with them the day after nor if you'll ever see them again"

Some emotion was now more visible "And then it can take years until a family picks you. People like me are seen as poor little kids that grow up to be marginalized by society. I never wanted to be that kid, I decided to learn how to play the piano, the cello, and Richie" she grinned "Richie taught me how to play the drums on some pots and pans we had in the center. I found my love for music along with so many kids who lived there. We were a lot living there you know, from several places, some end up there when they already know how to speak. That's the worst I guess, because you have a connection to the people who put you there." She seemed frustrated for a second "The point is Abel spoke french, Luisa's mother was german, Bettino was born in Italy. And was so interested in all those languages that would sit with them for days trying to learn them."

Matthew seemed to absorb everything she said and he couldn't even hide it. She obviously noticed it too "That's why I'm fluent in a few languages, that's why I know how to play all those instruments, and that's how I learnt a few sports as well. I never liked labels and I wanted to prove a few people wrong."

"You've been through so much, had such a rough childhood" He simply said but truth was he still didn't know half of her story "And yet you seem like you were born with a silver spoon on your mouth"

Her smile was bittersweet and her eyes looked tired but her voice was firm proving that she was sure of what she was saying "If you think about it life's a fight, punches are thrown at us, we fall and we get hurt, but it's all about how you choose to go home. All about you wanting people to see you're bruised or not. I never really liked people to see mine."

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Happy new year !!!! May your 2016 be filled with joy and happiness!!!!

I love you all and thank you so much for reading! 

I'm really happy with this chapter and very excited that Stella's back! 

Yxzmin