Faded

ch. one

"Marley!"

A shout coming outside my bedroom door jolted me awake. My heart racing as I remembered what happened a couple days earlier. My chest feeling as if it would collapse in on itself.

"Marley! Come!"

My mom's incessant shouting would normally irritate me, but now... I had no fight in me to care.

Sitting up, I catch my reflection. My hair matted, mixed with sweat and grease. Sleep deprivation making itself well-known as my usual happy-go-lucky features morphed into something unrecognizable...

Pitiful.

"Marley Rosas! Do not make me drag your ass down here!" Exasperation leaking its way into my mom's words.

Her shout made me rush out of bed in fear she might actually come up and see me in this state. I rush to the bathroom and quickly splashed water on my face, harshly rubbing as if that'll make me snap out of the fog I was in. I looked into the mirror, taking in all the details of myself. Water droplets slid down the hollowness of my cheeks and eyes that became slightly defined.

I started practicing my smile. I looked at myself as I forcefully smiled. The smile never reached my eyes as it would before. When did my smile become something so unnatural? Foreign...

I shook my head and looked down towards the sink as tears began to prick the corner of my eyes as I realized people will begin to know. I had just willed myself to believe that he hasn't told anyone. I hoped with all my soul that he kept it secret. I looked back up to meet my reflection.

"Fuck," I breathed out. They'll figure it. They'll know. Everyone will know. I broke myself out of the staring contest I had with the distorted version of myself because the girl in the mirror was not me. It couldn't be.

How did everything go to shit? How did he manage to completely shatter me?

I silently curse myself as I hastily put on a baggy sweater that I hoped would conceal my decaying form. I rushed downstairs and put on my practiced smile. My family shouldn't have to worry; this burden is for myself to carry.

"Hey, mom!" I said disgustingly cheery. Why is this act leaving me drained already?

"Finally!" my mom rolled her eyes, before continuing, "I thought you died in there!"

I wish.

I awkwardly laughed, "Sorry, I was catching up on work."

She brushed me off, quickly and replied, "It's fine, Carrie is at the door for you."

I nodded and turned, walking to the door. Opening it, I was rendered shocked as a loud scream pierced my ears, followed by my friend launching herself at me. The force of her jumping on me caused me to fall backwards, wind being knocked out of me.

"Marley! Marley! Marley!" She screamed, dragging out the last vowel in my name. "Guess what! Guess what! Guess what!"

I grimaced as she still shouted in my ear," Wha-?"

Cutting me off with another squeal, she hopped off of me and began hopping up and down in excitement. "I found my mate! I found my mate! I found my mate!"

Ouch.

I looked down as my expression faltered. I quickly regained my composure and put on the biggest, brightest, and fakest smile.

"Congrats! I am so happy for you! Tell me all the details!" Please don't.

She nodded, too oblivious in her own happiness to notice my lack of.