Fate & Destiny

Hurt (Chapter 1)

Alex

To the girl whom I love

"It is you! Why did you do that? Why did you tear my heart apart? Why?” She screams her lungs out while crouching at the edge of the street. Her voice is full of hatred, remorse, regret. It seems as though she was pouring out her soul. Passersby drop their judgmental gazes on her as if she wasa queer-looking creature.  People are reticent nowadays - no one will pour out their emotions on the street like her. Curiosity sparkles in every passerby’s gaze- what on earth happened to her? 

  I stand at a distance, watching her, watching how hurt she is, watching how her heart is full of wounds. She is starting to shiver, her knees drawing further into her chest as her arms wound tighter around them. Her face is buried in between her knees and her sobs have only become more erratic, louder. By now, the passersby have gotten bored, walking past her as if she was nothing more than a boring street performer. A few old ladies tut around her, mocking her and her ability to expose her emotions so freely. Kids have started to swarm around her, poking and prodding, asking if she would like a candy bar. But she only continues to shiver. 

  She is withdrawing herself. Withdrawing from the cruel world, from the hustle and bustle of modern life, from the gazes of passersby, from the tutting old ladies, from the embrace of kids, even from herself. The kids huddle over her and give her cuddles. The warmth of their body seems to melt the ice in her heart. She slowly jerks her head up and says: “Yes please, I’d like to have a candy bar,” with a subtle smile. I would love to give her a candy bar but I resist my temptation. 

  The kids are taken aback but many thrust their hands forward anyways, colorful treats and bars of chocolate present in their upward palms. She keeps up the pretense of a smile and accepts a few graciously. Then she looks up as mothers and nannies start to call and collect their children. Her swollen eyes and tear- stained face must alarm the women but before they can react, she stands up. She is at least a head taller than all of the women and she only smiles curtly in response to their surprise. 

"Oh blimey! What happened? Did you get robbed?"

"No, maybe she’s been raped!"

"Or perhaps worse, she’s broken up with her lover."

  The women flood her with their assumptions. The word ‘lover’ echoes in her mind causing her eyes to blink inconsistently. “My lover… He did this to me. He stabbed my heart with tiny knives. He hurt me! It hurts a lot. Now everything hurts. Breathing hurts, thinking of him hurts, forgetting him hurts, forgiving him hurts, hating him hurts,” she said wearily. 

  I slowly approach her and pat on her back.