The Mask

Chapter Two

Days had passed since Sally started cutting. She felt relieved but others were beginning to take notice. The cuts she had sliced into herself were beginning to scar, giving proof of her torment. She didn't mind so much, though.

Until she had the first thought while out with Kayla at the mall. They were walking past a beauty store on the way to the Food Court when she had it. She had glanced at a poster that had a smiling woman with flawless skin and it said "Laughter is the best concealer!"

It sure is. I use it all the time, except I don't conceal pimples and blackheads. I conceal pain. Pain that could fade away as soon as I pull a trigger and say good bye. Sally froze. What was that? She had never thought like that before, not even when she had felt more depressed than ever.

"Salls? Are you okay?" Kayla asked, concerned.

No I just thought about killing myself!

"Yeah! Now, come on let's eat. I'm starving!" Sally said putting on her smile again. Kayla grinned and the two dashed to their favorite restaurant in the food court. While Kayla went to get them a table, Sally stood in line to get them both burgers (Kayla didn't know, she was more of a health freak). Sally thought about the knife on her bed stand back at home, of her smile that was becoming harder and harder to mantain everyday, and most of all of the thoughts she had recently.

Did I want to die? I've never thought like that before. Not literally, anyways.

Sally almost let her smile fall but caught it just before the first tear slipped out.

Just focus on something else and the fear and pain and whatever that was will go away.

Sally sighed, somehow she knew it wouldn't work that way. After ordering and finding Kayla, Sally managed to let the frightening thoughts recede to the back of her mind.

"Ack, Salls did you get those just because you knew I would beat myself up about the calories?" Kayla groaned.

"Yeah," Sally laughed, but it was obvious she was distracted.

"Are you okay? You seem... I don't know... odd," Kayla asked, concerned for her friend.

"I'm fine," Sally said.

I'm not okay! I need a friend! Please never leave my side!

Kayla smiled at her and began to inhale her burger.

"For someone who will beat themselves up later you sure enjoy that!" Sally laughed, trying hard to make her smile stick. Kayla giggled and the two girls stayed like that for a while, just laughing and eating. Then Sally had the other thought that almost made the smile fall.

She enjoys your friendship, but she doesn't get that you want more than that. Leave her a note. Say "I love you. Please love me back." And let go of the agony.

She felt her smile slipping and barely managed to fix it.

"You know... Kayla I have to go. I'm sorry but my mom wants me home early. But I'll see you tomorrow!" Sally said. She stood up and left without waiting for an answer. On the bus ride home she thought of those thoughts she had had. Then stopped and let her smile fall. A tear came out, and somehow that made her feel as though she had finally felt happy, sincerely happy. She let the other tears fall, more and more. People looked at her and asked if she was okay but she didn't care. She was too focused on her tears.

When she got home, she ran up the stairs to her room and looked at the knife beneath her pillow. She picked it up and took it down to the kitchen, and threw it in the trash.

Never again! Never ever ever again!

She went back upstairs and looked at the window.

It's high enough. One leap and it's all over.

She stared at the window and walked over to it slowly. Carefully, she opened it and climbed onto the ledge. Just then the door opened.

"Sally? Are you home?" Asked her mom. Sally froze, what was she doing? Her mother was coming up the stairs.

Now or never.

Taking a deep breath, she jumped.

Author's Note
This is not the end of the book, wether or not Sally lives is up to how I feel. That's all for now! Olive out!