Eloise - the secret behind the mask

Chapter 2

I woke up with a start, with my heart still in my mouth andperspiration on my forehead.

My hands were sweating.

I glanced at my alarm clock: 23.50

I didn't even bother to switch it off and I slowly slid out ofthe sheets.

Strangely, Mark was in bed asleep.

I let a sigh escape. When he was not at home I usually put onsome background music as soon as I was awake.

I slipped on my ridiculous furry slippers with the rabbit's facewhich my mother had given me as a present when I was sixteen, a fewyears before I left home, a few years before I ruined my entireexistence.

When I had opened the parcel my mother gave me, I had exclaimed,"but Mum, they're pink!" She had smiled and as she headed offtowards the kitchen she had exclaimed, "darling, you will soon cometo understand the value of colour in your life, especially pink whichwill comfort and protect you always."

I did not understand the meaning of that phrase straightaway,but those slippers were magnificent for me.

It was only some time later that I understood just how right mymother had been.

In so much that every colour has its on reason for existence,its own gift and its own power.

I came out of the room, closing the door behind me, I was nothungry, my stomach was still closed due to my nightmare, so I wentstraight to the bathroom, throwing a rapid glance towards the window.

It was closed.

I closed the bathroom door behind me and turned on the shower.

The cascading water relaxed me, and I drifted away from myworldly cares.

Despite the closed door and the sound of the running water Icould clearly hear Mark swearing, a

clear sign that the alarm had gone off, and that he had needed to getup to switch it off.

"You stupid tart! How many times do I have to tell you toswitch the damn thing off? Why don't you ever understand anything?"

I pretended not to hear, hoping that Mark's irritability wouldwear off after a while, and that was exactly what happened.

He was too sleepy to let out all his aggression.

I folded my lips into a silly little smile, full knowing that ifMark got angry for real I would be taking a huge risk.

I decided not to think too much about what might happen, and Irelaxed under the jet of hot water.

The steam enveloped me, making me feel calm.

In moments like these I could fully allow my imagination towander, and I had to take advantage of the moment.

I did not get many moments when I could relax and free my mindof thoughts.

When I showered and Mark was at home awake, he would watchtelevision which he would turn on at full volume in the living room,or else he would insist on doing it with me, abusing my body which Igave to him to do as he wanted.

After a while I saw white clouds floating in an almostcrystalline blue sky, thousands of coloured birds flew off into thatwondrous sky, and I imagined I was one of them.

I had long tail feathers, of an indescribable colour, withfuchsia tones that reflected the rays of the sun.

I imagined opening my wings to the sun, forming behind me ashadow similar to the shadows