There's a Place For Us (Complete)

Part 36

II. A Test of True Love

(Part 36)

He wanted to know what happened? Yea, well he already knew...

She saw a video that ripped her heart out. Her boyfriend went to war and didn't came back. Her life did a 360, spinning out of control.

Adam's last words rung through her head, and then the screen went black.

'End of Video'

In the black screen, Isabella saw her reflection. She was a mess. She took a deep breath and took the DVD out of its slot. With tears coming out of her eyes, Isabella broke the DVD into two. It shattered and she threw the pieces against the wall with a hysteric scream of anguish. She sobbed loudly, but it didn't matter because her roommate was at classes. Isabella found a pair of scissors and placed herself in front of the mirror. The corners of the reflection glass had collected dust and had a few scratches. Isabella stared at herself. Her eyes were red, and she was tired of it. She was tired of crying, and she was tired of waiting. From that moment until forever, she promised herself she'd never cry again. She'd promised herself that multiple times before, but she intended to stay true to it this time. Then, she took a deep, shaky breath, and chopped her luscious blonde hair off. She cried during the process, and when her hair finally bobbed unevenly beneath her ears, she looked at the floor around her. She collected the clumps of hair in her hands. "Goodbye precious Starr," she said bitterly. Starr was gone. Adam's girl was gone. The innocent child with no spine to defend herself was gone. Adam was gone. Out of her life. She never wanted to think about him again.

Next, she grabbed her keys and drove to the tattoo parlor. The people there were the sketchiest people she'd ever seen in her life. Their hair was magenta pink or royal blue. They had tattoos completely covering their whole body and peircings in the wildest places. The place smelled of sweat and the lights were dim, making the place dark. The people spoke roughly and when a burly man approached her and asked her what she wanted, it took all she had to not run away. "Tattoo please," she said meekly, and the man laughed at her. She wasn't sure if it was because she said 'please' or because she said she wanted a tattoo when she was in a tattoo parlor.

The man led her to a table and demanded that she lay down. "What'll it be?" the big tattoo artist asked.

She had no idea what she wanted imprinted on her body forever. She hadn't even thought about it. She spoke on impulse and said, "Navy SEAL insignia," and before she could take back her words, the man had a needle and threat breaking the skin on her neck.

When the man was done, he hovered over her. "You want anything else," she was asked.

"Belly ring," she replied fiercely. The man made Isabella lay on her back, and pulled up her shirt. He ran his hands over her stomach like an animal who inspects its kill before eating it whole. Isabella closed her eyes tightly. She was different! She could deal with this! She clenched her toes that were snuggled in her converse sneakers, making her feet move slightly. It jarred the man out of his thoughts and he noticed on the white of the toe, written in thick Sharpie marker, 'Starr.' So when he said he was done, Isabella found a pale emerald star hanging from her belly button.

She bought a pack of cigaretts and choked on her first smoke. She went shopping in lingerie shops buying thongs and major push-up bras. She loaded her arms with short skirts and shorts, and see-through shirts. Anything that she would never have worn before.

Afterwards, she went into a neighboring makeup shop. She came out with a bag of cosmetics and a hundred dollars gone. In the car, she changed into the new clothes and applied the makeup. An hour later, she had her first sip of alcohol. And there she was a year later, drinking alcohol on a daily basis. A lost, forgotten soul...