Healing ||mileven||

The questions and the box

Max's POV

The next day I made my way back to the cabin and the strange girl who lived there, I knocked on the door but there was no answer.

"Hello?" I called, wandering around the outside of the cabin, shit. She was sitting by the stream facing away from me but obviously completely naked, I really didn't know what to do. My first instinct was to turn and run, but then I noticed something. Oh my god, she has a massive scar running up her back, 3 parallel lines running diagonally from her shoulder to her hip, what the hell happened? So many more smaller ones too. Her spine and ribs are sticking out so much, she's practically emaciated. I walked quietly back to the cabin, I'd be able to see when she was finished and then 'turn up'.

Every now and then I peeked around the corner, I didn't want to invade her privacy. I realised pretty quickly that she was just washing in the stream. Shit, I know it's a warm day but that must be so cold, it doesn't seem to bother her at all. She was also washing that blue shirt she was wearing yesterday, I wondered what she was going to wear, not wanting this visit to be even more awkward than yesterday! She looked like she was finished and stood, stumbling and wincing slightly in the process. God she's so weak she can barely get up. It was all I could do to remain hidden and not go to help her. She picked up something from the floor, it was a light pink dress, it had clearly seen better days but was clean and she clearly loved it, the way she put it up to her face and buried her head in it for a full 10 seconds, like she was remembering a beautiful memory from the past, before putting it on. She turned back to the cabin, and I took my moment to 'arrive'.

"Oh hi, it's me, Max, from yesterday, remember?" ugh, waffling already, get it together Max.

"Hi Max". She actually does look pleased to see me, I got a real smile. "You want to come inside...or sit out here?"

That's literally the most words she's said in one go. "How about a walk, weather's way better than yesterday" I said with a laugh.

"Ok, can you wait?" She went into the cabin to get something I guess.

"Yeah, sure". What's that she's got? Huh, Tupperware from yesterday, weird thing to bring on a walk, but hey "let's go!"

We walked in silence for over 20 minutes, my mind buzzing with questions. She seemed to be going somewhere specific as she would find little landmarks here and there, an old stump, a fallen tree, until we came to an old box just lying on the ground. I realised we weren't too far from the road but didn't think much of it, I was more interested by the box.

"What's with the box?"

She didn't answer, just opening it instead. What the...? Inside was another Tupperware, full by the looks of the weight when she picked it up, plus a few eggos in their wrappers. She picked them all up and put the old Tupperware back inside, then started back towards the cabin. I literally just stood there, not knowing what the hell was going on.

I'll ask her when we get back...

...........................

"Do you, uhh, do you get all your food from that box?" asked Max back at the cabin.

"Yes"

"Oh...ummm...why? It's a bit odd, I mean, like, my parents go to the store, and then bring it all home...and umm..." Max trailed off thinking maybe she'd gone too far when she saw the girls jaw tense up.

"My father is away all day, he leaves it there for me" she said unconvincingly.

"But is that all you have to eat? You must be starving".

"It's fine, I have enough, it's enough" she said, killing the conversation, "I'm tired, I need to sleep, please, I need you to go".

"Oh, o-okay" replied Max, awkwardly. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I don't know". Damn, she looks really uncomfortable... "I'm sorry, I was just curious, I didn't mean to upset you..." Max said as she walked out the door, trying to make amends.

Just as Max was walking down the path she heard the girl say "see you tomorrow", and she smiled to herself.

...........................