Enigmatic Numbness

6: Getting Comfortable

Spencer was one of Kieran’s friends from school and they have known each other since seventh grade. They live five houses from each other and were so close, that they could just walk into each other’s homes casually. Aruna listened to Kieran and Spencer as they told her funny stories about their past together and the things they got into. She sat next to Kieran, farthest away from Spencer as they spoke.

            “So, what’s your name,” Spencer asked her. She looked at Kieran for help but he shook his head, making her speak.

            “Aruna,” She said quietly and tried to hide behind Kieran but he gently pushed her to face Spencer.

“Aruna? That a very pretty name. What does it mean?” Spencer asked and slid closer to her.

“It means dark orange or rust colored,” She informed him with a slight nod.

“That’s cool,” Spencer spoke with a grin, making her smile. She kind of thought of his as cute for a split second until she felt her arms begin to sting. The new shirt she put on this morning began turning red on her arms. She began to panic and scrambled clumsily to her feet.

“Aruna, what’s wrong?” Kieran asked, worried.

“N-n-nothing, just, I need to use the restroom, yeah.” She shakily whispered as she backed out of the room with her arms against her chest.

“Aruna, wait!” Kieran shouted after her as she began to run to the stairs. She heard his footsteps after her so she began sprinting up the stairs and away from the guest bedroom to look for his sister’s bedroom. She opened a door with a pink flower taped to it and she yanked it open and locked it behind her. Before Kieran got to the door and began knocking, she had gotten into the closet to look for a new shirt. Why did I have to do this so deep? She asked herself as she began to feel her thighs become wet with blood.

“Please, Aruna, let me help you,” his voice cracked and it almost broke her resolve. She shook her head and grabbed a black long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt, and a pair of dark skinny jeans. They would be a tad loose but she could deal. Then, she began to search the bathroom cupboards for gauze, ignoring Kieran’s pleas at the door. As soon as she found the medical tape and gauze, she stripped her clothes down to her undergarments and began washing her cuts with a wet rag. She sat up on the counter and began preparing the gauze when the door to the bedroom suddenly burst open with a frustrated Kieran jogging to her. She began to try and find a hiding place even though he already spotted her. She couldn’t find a way out so she opted for running and closing the bathroom door.

She hopped off the counter and began her walk to the bathroom when her eyes latched onto Kieran’s and his low, angry voice made her freeze. “Don’t even think about it,” He growled. She began to step back slowly as he gained on her with quick angry steps. He appeared in front of her, grabbing her wrists and flipping them over to expose her carnage. Her head hung low in humiliation and disappointment in herself. He began to breath in short breaths as her looked over her exposed body. Almost every inch of her body was covered in scars or fresh cuts.

“Why?” He whispered in shock. She snapped out of her haze and began to fight him to let go of her. She struggled but he held onto her with a steel grip. “Why?” He yelled and her eyes began to water. Just then, Spencer ran into the room and froze at what he saw. That’s when she snapped.

“Stop fucking staring at me,” She screamed and yanked herself out of his grip and roughly shoved him away and out of the bathroom slamming the door after him so she could fix herself. She was shaking now and couldn’t even wrap her arms and legs. So, she just sat on the counter with her head in her hands.  She heard the door open slowly but she didn’t bother looking up. Kieran sighed and motion for Spencer to come in.