Give Me A Reason

Work (Six)

It was super busy in the coffee shop, I was working the morning shift again, but today we were understaffed. Everyone knew about the break between Bridgett and Kevin so no one said anything about her attendance the past week. She was nowhere to be seen as both employees and customers scurried around. I was somewhat relieved when I was told she wasn't coming in. The events from last night were still fresh in my mind. My first kiss, but I couldn't think of that now, I needed to give the impatient lady in front of me her mocha latte before she started making a scene. It seemed as if everyone was grumpy today but it was probably also the fact that it was 5:30am.

"Alyssa go to the storage room and grab some more milk and creamer, we're running low." Cortney threw the keys to me without looking up from what she was doing. I made my way to the storage room, avoiding the people running around. I quickly grabbed what was needed and headed out. As I closed the door someone bumped into me and I almost dropped the box of creamers. Turning around I saw it was Bridgett standing behind me. She looked surprisingly okay considering the news she had told me last week. "Hi," I said with a smile, trying to supress the nervous feeling in my stomach. Tears began to fill her eyes and I could tell she was holding them back. "What are you doing standing here? We're slammed, go help out." Bridgett's voice was strained and her attitude was alarming. There was a tightening in my stomach and I hurried away to give Cortney the extra milk while I restocked the creamer. "Bridgett is in the back," I informed the crew.

"She is?"

"How'd she look?"

"Is she okay?"

Everyone seemed to stop what they were doing in their concern for Bridgett. "She is keeping it together, but we need to work," I wasn't sure what to say to everyone. I didn't really have any friends and no one knew the things I knew about Bridgett. We all worked diligently for the next two hours until it slowed down. Bridgett was nowhere to be seen the entire time.

The bell on the door rang as it opened and a small old lady walked in with a man. They were similar to Bridgett in appearance. No one said anything to them as they walked behind the counter. The man pointed to one of the other emplyees, "you, go home." He eyed me an then moved on into the back. "Who are they?" I didn't know I had asked out loud until Cortney answered, "honey they own this place. With Bridgett upset they're making sure she's still running the place right. It'll be hers one day." Cortney looked at me questioningly, "you never met her family?" I shook my head, I had known her family was rich, but Bridgett and I were never close.

"Poor thing, living with so much pressure and abuse." A skinny old woman that hardly spoke said quietly. "She's made a lot for herself, despite everything that's happened to her." The woman's nametag read Lisa. I was about to ask what happened to her when the owners walked out from the back of the shop. Although the morning rush had slowed, everyone turned to look like they were working again. The man stopped again and pointed to Cortney, "go home," he ordered and they all left.

I waited until the door closed then turned back to Lisa. She was quietly wiping down the counters. "Lisa what did happen to Bridgett?" The question was asked as I opened my mouth to ask it. Everyone was looking at Lisa again as she cleaned and ignored us all. I didn't notice as Bridgett walked up behind us, "why ask Lisa when I'm right here?" She would've looked angry if it weren't for her puffy and reddened eyes.

"For those of you that don't know, that was my mother and brother, anything they say goes." Bridgett sat on one of the empty tables as she spoke. "I stayed with Lisa my junior year of high school because my family was away on business trips all year." I hadn't noticed before but there was a handprint on her right cheek and when she moved her hair there was slight bruising around her neck. "...all you need to know about my life, now get back to work." She left again to the storage room without another word. Whatever Bridgett said seemed to be enough for everyone else, but I needed to know more.

Who abused her? Was that the reason she did it to Kevin?

I followed her steps to the storage room. She stood in front of the freezer. "I'm going to assume you didn't bring any makeup in your rush to leave this morning." I should've started out by asking if she was okay, but people usually lie and besides I knew she wasn't. "You know most people would mind their own business, but you'd be correct." She sounded defensive which kind of annoyed me. "I have concealer if you'd like," I offered. She stood still in front of the freezer, silent. I grabbed one of the clean rags and put some ice into it. "Put this against your cheek and hold it there," I said as I closed the freezer door. "I will be right back."

I quickly went to my locker in the breakroom and grabbed the concealer in my purse. When I got back to the storage closet Bridgett was sitting on a stool holding the makeshift icepack to her face. "It doesn't happen often," Bridgett spoke quietly as I dabbed the concealer on her neck with a beauty sponge. She was darker than me but the darkening of the bruises made the concealer match her skin almost perfectly. "My mom makes sure I stay in check and now my brother helps since my dad is always gone." I didn't say anything as I focused on applying and blending. She winced when I touched her cheek. "It's worse when dad is home. Junior year I tried running away and Lisa was the one to help me after my beating. It isn't abuse, it's discipline for doing something bad."

My fingers froze for a second at her words. "Do you really believe that?" I couldn't believe the things she was telling me. "Of course I do, there's nothing else to believe." There was annoyance in her voice and then sadness. "Kevin was the only one that made me feel like I could believe differently." I stepped away after finishing her makeup. "Maybe you'll work it out or find someone better," I suggested. She shrugged and I knew she wouldn't share any more.