Tattooed Emotions

21

Dan

I pulled my sleeves over my hands as I made my way down the corridor, keeping my head down and trying to become invisible as I avoided the chaos of lunchtime.

Shoes whizzed past me and balls of paper hit my back, but I kept walking, casting my eyes lower.

My feet trudged heavy along the ground as my head spun.

Loser.

No one cares.

Idiot.

Phil didn't talk to me anymore, only via text.

That was probably my fault.

I wanted to apologize for shouting but I was scared he wouldn't forgive me.
I know I'm horrible. That's why everyone hates me.

Maybe Phil would be happier without me...
No. I want Phil.
I would talk to him tonight after school.
I would say sorry.

Suddenly I was dragged out of my thoughts as my body was shoved against the wall, the whole corridor going silent as I struggled for breath.
"Freak, what's that black lmao line mean?" Chris snarled whilst PJ cheered him on in the background.
A hand wrapped itself around my throat and I could feel myself getting lightheaded, before I was released and my legs collapsed underneath me.
"Emotionless waste of space."

A foot went to kick me in the balls, and I whimpered, trying to stay quiet despite the agonising pain ripping throughout my body. My hand flew up to stop a scream escaping my mouth, and I felt my sleeve fall down, uncovering my arm.
"Oh look, the fag has been cutting itself!"

I could hear people around me, watching. No one cared to help. They just stayed silent with every fist that was sent towards me, every kick to the head.

He grabbed my face and held it tightly in his grasp, sneering, "You're right about one thing. You are unloveable. No one wants you here." He leaned in to whisper in my ear, his breath hot against my skin, "Maybe you should just kill yourself."

My vision was blurry from tears, and blood soaked my clothes as a result of a particularly powerful punch delivered to my nose.

Then, in the corner of my eye, I saw someone in the distance. I blinked, trying to focus on the blurry image until I realised who it was.

"Philip! Phi-" Another punch sent to my gut knocked my breath from my lungs and I hunched over on the floor, heaving up blood and sobbing with shaking, stilted breaths.

And as I felt my muscles give way, and my eyelids become heavy, my eyes fixed themselves on Philip, stood staring, his mouth open and his eyes fearful, before he turned and ran, leaving me alone as a final reigning hit knocked me out cold.