Look At Me

Introduction

B E F O R E

The boy is perfect.

Look at me, please turn around and look at me.

Look at her. She is young, innocent, reckless. She wanted this night to be perfect, her personal fairytale. She wore little to no makeup, focusing in on her natural beauty, accenting her virtuous aurora. A dress not too short, yet still gave the wrong impression. 

You are beautiful, perfect even, her best friend, Ashton, says, she now feels worthy of the boy's glance.

Here, take a drink, but not too much.

Thank you, she says.

Don't do anything stupid and please be careful.

But this isn't stupid to her. She will be okay, she knows how to handle her drinks. A couple more will be okay. 

She talks to the boy, laughs and asks him to get her another.

Ashton is back, telling the boy to watch her and keep her safe.

I will, the boy promises.

She likes being cared for, wanted, but one more drink won't be stupid, would it?

Look at her.

She's going to puke. He guides her away from the party to his bedroom upstairs. But she doesn't want him, she wants her best friend. 

Something's wrong.

She thinks she's far beyond the point of being stupid.

He walks over to the door and locks it.

It's okay, just close your eyes and I'll protect and take care of you just like I promised.

No.

He waits and waits for her to fall asleep, until he realized there was no point. She wants him, after all she told him he's perfect.

No.

He feels under her shirt.

Open your eyes, look at me.

He needs her to look at him.

He parts her lips with his tongue.

No. She is going to puke.

He explores her body, his weight on top of her, crushing her and she can't breathe, so she cries.

No don't cry. It won't go that far, I promise.

And so he covers her mouth.

Except I'm not there anymore. That isn't me. I can't be her again.

I can't.

Breathe.

This is a story about a girl.

Don't look at her.