To Obey or Disobey

To Obey or Disoeby

They said moving was a tough phase in life. Getting separated from childhood friends, leaving friendly neighbors and most importantly, fitting into the new school. Well, I beg to differ. What's there to lose when you didn't have friends, didn't know the neighbors and didn't fit into your neighborhood? Nothing.

That's what I thought when I carried boxes from my old house onto the moving van. Never would I have thought that moving would change so much for me, because when you're the only Asian in an American school noticed by all the wrong people, it never ends well.

I guess it has been going on for a month, but they never did anything serious. They just ask for some money. They never do any real damage if you do as you were told. I was a part of something, a group. I had friends for once in my life, they noticed me. But I knew it was all too good to be true.

They asked me to do things, steal things. I didn't want to do it. I didn't want any trouble. I didn't want anything to do with them anymore, they do bad things. I was scared that they would do something to me if I don't obey. Their demands just got bigger and worse, I was scared. I disobeyed.

I sat on the white marble floor as tears escaped from the corner of my eyes and drip-dropped onto the cold hard ground. I held my stomach that had been kicked multiple times and was probably forming bruises right now. I felt so much pain physically and mentally. mere words couldn't describe it. I leaned against the cold metal lockers as my head fell weak to my shoulder.

Snickers and cackles could be heard around me. "You're so weak, what a waste of energy." A sharp, cold voice that makes me sick to the core sounded, rubbing my very existence in my face. I wished I hadn't existed. But God gave me life and I deserve to live it.

I look up to see a pair of gleaming violet eyes under thick eye makeup glaring back at me. Long brown hair flowed down to her waist and rested on her shoulders. Her skin was so flawless and perfect that I often wondered why she always wear so much makeup. Her face, twisted into a scowl, looked down at me with no emotion. A ice cold wall blocked those eyes from letting me see through her thoughts.

Vanessa...

"What should we do with her?" The girl to her right, Maria asked, grabbing me by the collar. "If we hit her anymore, she might die." She snickered at my weak and vulnerable state.

"I would love to see that." The girl to her left, Jessica said, kicking me in the ribs some more. I cringed and coughed out blood.

The three girls jumped back in disgust. "Gross... She got it all on my new shoes!" Vanessa shrieked in disgust. You deserve it. Vanessa pulled at my hair and made me fall on my knees. "Apologize now you peasant!" Her scream pierced through my ears like knives.

"I... I'm sorry..." I managed to choke out two words from the pain I was feeling.

"She obviously doesn't mean it." Jessica said with a roll of her eyes. "Let's cut off her stupid hair as a punishment. It'll grow back anyways."

"Yeah, I want to see her bald and begging for mercy." Maria agreed, giving me a hard stare that reminded me of a witch.

I didn't have any more energy to move, but the thought of getting my hair cut off gave me a burst of energy. "Please... Please don't cut my hair..." My raw and raspy voice shook; my heart was beating faster than it should with fear as its fuel.

I let out a high pitch scream that filled the air as I saw Vanessa holding a pair of scissors that gleamed in the light. She slammed a hand on my mouth and the other two pinned my hands down. "Shut up and stay down Kimberly! Your life is already hell, cutting your hair can't make it any worse than it already is." Vanessa said with a roll of her eyes.

Tears poured out of my eyes when the sound of the scissors sounded beside my ear. I squeezed my eyes shut as my long hair got snipped off. Locks of jet-black hair fell all around me, mocking my weakness. I can't stop them; I felt so useless. I could hear their laughs around me, tightening around me like a rope, suffocating me. I can't breathe; I can't think straight. I thought I was going to puke.

"She's even uglier now, and I didn't think that was possible." Maria laughed. The trio snickered at me, quiet and weak. I'm so pathetic.

Jessica slapped me across the face, causing me to hit my head on the locker. It hurts. Black spots danced in my vision and my head felt like it was going to explode. My head was pounding, my vision was dark, and my limbs were heavy. My stomach felt like it went on a roller coaster and got turned inside out.

Before they could do anymore damage, there was a man's voice shouting. "Hey, what are you girls doing in school this late?"

"Oh no, run for it!" The three bullies ran away, leaving me on the ground.

A tall shadow with a flashlight in his hand ran over to me. "Miss, are you okay?" He shook me softly by the shoulders. My vision was blurry and I couldn't see much. I tried to keep my eyes open but they threatened to slip away. My brain was fuzzy; staying awake wasn't as easy as it sounds.

Maybe today was the day I join my mother in heaven. Dear mother in heaven, I've missed you so much. Please angels, take me to my dear mother in heaven. 

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Words: 995

By: T. Kimberly Xaffrina (2015)