Short Stories

The Comforting Stranger

The Comforting Stranger:

I LOOKED INTO THE MIRROR AND GRIMACED AT THE REFLECTION, cuts and scabs were running across my face and body. All over my arms, legs, stomach, back, everywhere. This was the result of a car crash, my near death experience.

            I was released from the hospital two days ago. My mother said that I could go to school if I wished, she didn’t want me to get even more far behind than I already was. I decided to do it, being bored with another day at the house to waste was pointless. I’d rather make my day well-worth living by doing something productive.

            My mother was thrilled that I wanted to go to school. She gave me my painkillers and called the nurse to tell her I had it and I could handle it on my own. She also called the principal to tell her that I was fine and coming in, from hearing the muffled voice on the other line talking frantically, I suppose she was thrilled as my mother.

          I dressed in black jeans and a black hoodie that was almost twice my size, though it hid most of my scars and scratches, so that was good enough. I couldn’t do much about my face though. Make-up was an option, but I wasn’t too fond of make-up, it’s pointless. I don’t understand why girls lather themselves up in it. Probably to impress someone.

            And what if you do impress that someone and you end up liking each other, but the only person that he likes is the make-up lathered person? So, technically it’s a waste of perfectly good money. It’s a shame, really.

          My mother was going to drive me to school, not wanting me to walk by myself. I honestly thought that the reason why she was driving me was because she didn’t feel safe anymore. Maybe she didn’t think I felt safe anymore.

            And that was an honest assumption.

            My father was one of the sheriff’s in the town, not one of the best known, just a cop. When we were driving home one night, just me and him, he was talking about this guy and how he had five DUI’s in the previous state he lived in and that he drove drunk here and was caught, and now serving jail time.

            He smiled when he told me this. I missed that smile, I wish I could see it again. When he was driving the light was green and he was pressing the gas pedal to go. The car lurched forward and moved under the pavement easily. Though not really paying attention to the road, too caught up in the story, a car turned, obviously running a red light and slammed right into us.

            The doctors said dad died on impact.

          My mother pulled me up to the school and bid me goodbye when I got out. I took a deep breath then entered the school grounds.

          No one could keep their eyes from me. They trailed the scratches and cuts on my face, some eyes expressed pity, others didn’t really express anything besides curiosity.

       School dragged on and on until I finally got to lunch. Unfortunately May, my very close and only friend, didn’t have this lunch, I wished she were here. I walked over to the most unpopulated table in the cafeteria. The few people who were at the table immediately moved to the very edge of it, apparently uncomfortable with my presence.

            I ignored them. I wanted to be on my own anyways. The chatter throughout the room was my background music for lunch, it kept me awake and away from the horrid thoughts of blame that always haunted me.

            “Well, well, well, look what we have here,” said Noah, his voice cut through the background chatter easily. His voice was filled with venom and hatred. “What do you want, Noah?” I asked harshly, not in the mood to be pushed around. Noah then came into my view of vision. His brown hair tousled in a messy fashion and his beanie seemed to almost slide off his skull.

            “I heard that your daddy’s gone,” he stated bluntly. I was shocked and mentally unprepared for this, so I didn’t reply. I let his evil; disgusting words sink into my brain. Noah smiled and continued, “Yeah, that car accident, if only he was paying attention to the road,” he said lazily. I took a deep breath, I could slightly feel my pulse quicken in anger.

             Then something clicked in his brain that made his disturbing, evil smile grow bigger, “I also heard that you were the cause of his death.”

            That made me snap. Shaking with rage I instantly got up on my feet, “You asshole!” I screeched. Grabbing my lunch tray I chucked the remainder of my food at him. “Go to hell!” I added before I stalked off, tears welling up in my eyes.

*

My shoulders were shaking as I was sobbing. I sat in an abandon hallway, hoping no one decided to follow me after that scarring fiasco. I hugged my bent knees up to my chest, my head buried in the caps. What if I am the cause of his death? I wondered sadly.

            My thoughts started to turn to the worst until the echoing of footsteps interrupted them. I looked up to see a guy in my year. His blonde hair was ruffled and his eyes were a radiant blue. His eyes met mine, I quickly looked away, slightly embarrassed that he caught me staring.

            That was when his feet stopped moving, his eyes filled with concern. “Hey,” he whispered, stepping towards me, “are you alright?” Not having the energy to reply with a sarcastic remark I just shook my head, “No,” I croaked out. He nodded his head, “Well, here, let me help you up,” as he said this he offered his hand. I took it. Once I was on my feet he hugged me, I was grateful because I desperately needed one.

            Though at first I was hesitant, then my arms wrapped around his upper body. I hugged him tightly, tears started to slip from my eyes again. I bit my lip to suppress the sobs. I believed that he felt me crying, because then I felt his arms secure around me even tighter as more tears slipped from their ducts.

            When I finally released him, he sighed. Stepping back and looking me into the eyes, he said, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened, but just know that it won’t last forever, and it will all turn out okay, and," he hesitated for a moment before continuing, "if you need another hug just look for me.”

And with that he left.

That was when I realized I never got his name.