The Bride Market

Part 3

I stumbled into Silvinya's room and collapsed on her bed. My breaths heavy after they morning I had endured. For a few minutes I just ley there, my hand gripping onto the duvet next to my face. I didn't even notice she wasn't in her room for a while, but it didn't matter. I just needed to lay down.

I wanted to fall asleep, but too many thoughts crowed my mind. Like when storm clouds flood the sky. I just wish I knew why Miss Howard was that horrible to me. Her life has been hard, but that was a little extreme. She really doesn't like kids, does she.

In that moment I longed for the day I could escape this place. I longed for a man to come here and whisk me away to a better world. But that won't happen, because my life outside the compound might end up much worse than my life within.

I felt bored but at the same time relieved that I didn't have to get up.

I stayed there for about half an hour before the door swung open and Silvinya walked in.

"Ali? What happened, are you okay?"

I turned my head towards her, and she must have noticed my swollen lower lip and blue patch on my cheek where she had hit me. That women is has a strong swing.

"Oh god. What did he do to you?"

I was shocked that she asked what he did to me. She must think that Lincon was the one that hit me.

"What did she do to me. It was Ms Howard that struck me. Pretty damn hard if you can't see that for yourself."

She looked dazed, she had never been hurt by Ms Howard before. Lucky her. In fact, I have never seen Ms Howard strike anyone else before.

"She..... why?"

I sighed. "I talked back to her when she was telling me how worthless I was."

Silvinya ran towards me and jumped on the bed to give me a hug. I don't think that she realized that I was almost crushed in the process.
Eventually I couldn't take it anymore, "You're.... I can't... breathe."

She slid off me and held my hand so tightly I thought it was going purple.

"I'll always be here for you. Always."
I smiled at her, before I let my eyelids fall over my blue eyes and my breaths calm down. After a few minutes I fell asleep.

---

My eyelids lazily slid open as someone lay a hand on my shoulder. Silvinya sat next to me.

"Hey, I'm sorry I had to wake you but it's time for lunch. And I don't think you got breakfast this morning."

She was right, I hadn't eaten anything. My stomach felt tight and ached. I should get some food. Then I remembered, I can't go down to the hall.

"I am hungry, but I can't go to lunch. Ms Howard told me that I can't be seen by her anywhere in the compound until I apologize. I am in no mood to do that now."

She frowned. "Alyza," Now I'm scared, she doesn't often call me by my real name. And her tone is light and calm, while it is usually bubbly and exited. She never talks to me like this. "I know you think that you are standing up to her by not apologizing and you have all the right to be mad at her, but don't let her get in the way of your health. She isn't worth it, don't give her that kind of power over you. "

She has a point. And even though she can act immature, she is actually pretty wise when it comes to situations like mine. I wish she knew how much I appreciate her.

"Okay."

She half bounced off the bed, causing the springs to shriek when her body lifted itself. She can be graceful at times, but today just isn't one of those days. She looked like a floppy jellyfish.