Prompt was the song "Youth" by Daughter, on the side.
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The woman was pale and cold, floating among the red water with blank eyes. Her wrists were stained by gashes that would remain her legacy forever. Her last gaze held those of the paramedic, her final cry for help, a hurt that would never heal. The paramedic kneeled down beside the bathtub and reached for her arm, checking over the wounds she had caused. Vertical, deep enough to tear through the main arteries and cause major blood loss within minutes. It was a painful death, but she guessed that was the point of doing it like that.
“Alice, you okay?”
Alice jumped, dropping the arm she was inspecting and turning to face her coworker. He was looking down at her with that face full of pity, and she felt a surge of anger.
“I'm fine, Cam,” she hurled through gritted teeth. “Can we just get this poor woman out of here without causing a mess?”
If Cam seemed shocked from her outburst, he hid it well. He nodded at her, beckoned to the two people controlling the stretcher behind him, and they all helped to lift the body from the water. Once she was situated on the stretcher, a sheet pulled over her, she was wheeled out of the apartment complex as her former neighbours watched on.
Alice stared after the group as they descended in the elevator. She wanted to know why someone would do something so horrible to themselves. How could that nameless woman allow herself to get so hurt that she would end her life instead of asking for help? She glanced around the apartment complex, hoping to spot something she could use to – huh. There. Lying in plain sight, on the kitchen bench, a bright green notebook that looked like it was used often. Alice wandered over and opened it to the last entry with trembling hands, nervous about what she might find within.
At the first words, she took a seat. This was going to be a rough journey from start to finish.
I love him.
I truly do. There is nothing that compares to this feeling.
But he hates me. He left me alone, stubbed me out like one of his fucking cigarettes on the pavement. I've lost my direction without him. He kept me straight, and he knew it. I think it's finally time for me to exact my revenge, so long I've been waiting for it. He will feel this in his heart.
To whoever decides to pick this up after I'm long gone, have a bit of advice – love is a load of bullshit. If you're still breathing, you're one of the lucky ones. A lot of us aren't.
Thank you for caring about me anyway. It's more than I can say for most.
Goodbye, for now and forever.
xx Helen.
Alice dropped the book in her lap, surprised to feel tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She knew how this woman was feeling before her death, the pain and hurt. She had been setting fire to her insides for fun when she fell in love. She thought back to the look of pity Cam had thrown her way earlier, and set her resolve.
Revenge was imminent for all those who had hurt her.
