"Mom..."
Was the last word she could barely say before her eyes closed, everything was blurry she felt blind but knew someone was holding her hand and was trying to keep her awake. What she saw was still in her mind which was kept on fading her pain away because she wasn't only physically hurt. How can someone be so cruel, she thought. She knew what was going to be the outcome, she knew that nothing was left, she knew she was ruined but her heartbeat couldn't stop on her desire, her breaths were heaved but they didn't stop. She was just a little innocent child at the age of 9, no one knew how she was gonna accept the truth she already knew. Pain was already there but her mind was too busy to feel it until the doctor wrapped bandages around her wounds upon her forehead and knees, she hissed.
"Alice...?" A soft voice called her name and pulled her back to the senses. She moved her eyes from the bandage on her hand to Perla's confused face. Alice showed her a blank face which made Perla say "It's done.... what have you been thinking for long?" Alice didn't reply her, she was drowned in her dark memories she wanted to forget so far but she couldn't even after 17 years. Sometimes when you try to run away from something, it keeps you tied up, not just with the flashbacks, even with the pain you felt. Walking back home from the bus stand wasn't something exciting for Alice until a new cafe came in her sight by the corner of the street next to her home. She thought having some coffee wouldn't be a bad idea after all she had nothing to do. A small bell pealed when she pushed the door to get inside but that cute sound wasn't responsible for what she felt right there in her tiny heart. "Welcome! you're the first customer, have a seat please" Maybe the words he spoke were the reason or maybe it was just his sparkling eyes, she couldn't figure out. She stepped forward to the front table and sat on the chair. He came from behind the counter and placed the menu on her table with a beautiful smile. "You'll have a fifty percent discount since you're kind of a lucky starter of my business, God I was so nervous, well I still am but thank you so much for encouraging me by coming in" He said with a happy yet confused face cause he wasn't sure what he said. His happiness felt beautiful to Alice, hearing him made her think that his nervousness has a reason but what about her? she just wanted to have a coffee so there's no big deal. The handsome guy was actually confused seeing no response for his kindness. Alice was still looking at the menu but it was obvious that she wasn't reading a single word, he coughed to get her attention and she looked at him, he smiled and asked if she decided what she wants and Alice immediately replied "Simple coffee with any special cookies you have" "Sorry ma'am, I don't have a special item yet since it's the first day but is it okay if I serve you some chocolate cookies?" He said while scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. She nodded so he smiled in response and went back to his counter. He noticed how Alice was so blank and in some ways, it was shown that once that face smiled a lot. He was focused on how she was sitting there with her sight locked on the menu, he thought what she would be thinking so far that she forgot how the cup of coffee was still untouched after 5 minutes. He was seeing how beautiful she looked while sitting in the same position. Her eyes were laid on the menu yet the lashes were still lifted up so high, she was glowing there in the dim lights, he knew how worst the coffee could get but he felt like he shouldn't miss the moment but eventually, Alice came back from another world and took her coffee, she barely drank a sip and placed it back. Eric reached her table to ask if he should reheat the coffee but he noticed the bandage and thought it would be better to ask something else first.
"Does it hurt?"
"Yes it does"
Alice nodded with a sad face and felt as if she shared her pain with someone really close. She lifted her face up to look at him, he felt a little sad for her because it was clear that she wasn't talking about her wound. Feeling like an open book for someone to read for the first time made her so uncomfortable that she just stood up took her bag and left the cafe....
