Forever Scars

Those patronizing remarks

It was 5.45pm, Michael was going to pick her up in 15 minutes time. Ryleigh was beyond nervous, stuttering and talking at lightning speed, breathing quickly as if she had just run a marathon. 'Calm down, Ryleigh.' Gwen said as Ryleigh was running in and out of her room to get something or other.

'Gwen, is my hair okay?' Ryleigh said, pointing to her head. She had styled her hair in space buns with some face-framing tendrils in the front.

'Ryleigh, you look amazing, absolutely perfect.' Gwen assured.

'Oh, Gwen! What if they hate my scars?' Ryleigh asked, lifting her hands to eye level.

Gwen walked over and held her hands, 'These hands, are the most nimble, crafty, talented hands ever. Your dexterity with baking and cooking, is absolutely incredible.'

Ryleigh let out a tear and smiled, embracing Gwen tightly, she said earnestly, 'Thank you so much, Gwen. You're the best.'

'Any time, sweetie.' Gwen hugged her back warmly.

'Hello, um is anyone in?' Michael asked as he knocked the door.

'You better get going, sweetie.' Gwen let Ryleigh go. 'Have fun!' Gwen called out. Ryleigh grinned widely and nodded.

'Hey, you look great!' Michael commented staring at Ryleigh up and down. Ryleigh blushed at his words, making him smirk.

'So where are we going?' Ryleigh asked curiously. Michael didn't tell her any of the details.

'My parent's apartment. It's nearby here.' Michael answered.

Ryleigh nodded as they walked side by side, hands linked together.

'Michael, what are your parents like?' Ryleigh tried to ask casually but Michael heard the hint of anxiousness in her tone.

'Hey, don't be worried. They'll love you. You look great!' Michael answered. His answer wasn't enough to appease Ryleigh though. Are looks really everything in the Miller household?

'Should I talk to them? Like make conversation?' Ryleigh asked.

'Um...I don't know. My parents aren't particularly chatty. Just sit down and look pretty, easy enough task for you.' Michael replied with a smile, oblivious to what Ryleigh was really asking, do they actually care about her personality rather than her looks.

Ryleigh wanted to question him further but was afraid of souring his mood so she decided to stay silent. To quote Michael, "just sit down and look pretty", so that was the plan tonight.

When they reached the apartment, Ryleigh expected it to be more or less like Gwen's. But she was so wrong, the amount of space inside was huge. A four bedroom apartment with five bathrooms, a glorious kitchen and a spacious living room. Fairy lights and tinsel bedecked the whole place, with a marvelous Christmas tree in the corner. At first, she thought Gwen's tree was big, but in comparison to this one, it was just a mere worm.

The place was filled with people. Everywhere people were chatting, laughing, exchanging gifts. Then, it hit her, was she supposed to bring a gift? Before she could mull over that problem any further, a young woman with luscious dark curls and a curvaceous body sashayed over to them, greeting them with a bright smile. 'Hello Michael!' They kissed slightly on the cheek before the woman turned to Ryleigh.

Ryleigh, a little taken aback by how comfortable they were with each other just gave her a tight-lipped smile in return. 'Hello! Welcome to the Christmas Eve party, I'm Sarah Angels!' the woman greeted.

The way she phrased it made it seem as if she was hosting the party. And how close she was to Michael... Suddenly, she felt a hard squeeze on her hand. It was Michael prompting her to say something. She realized that this was the part where she was supposed to introduce herself.

'Oh...um hi. I'm Ryleigh. Michael's um...girlfriend.' Ryleigh decided that the best way to keep this woman's hands off Michael was to assert her dominance. But clearly it just made everything even more awkward than it already was. Michael furrowed his eyebrows slightly, his body visibly stiffened. Sarah just nodded with something reminiscent of a smile on her face. And Ryleigh just felt so embarrassed she wanted to dash out the door.

Michael slowly led Ryleigh away to the dining table, where his parents were sitting and chatting to other guests. 'Oh, hello.' Mrs. Miller greeted with a guarded smile. Judging by her body language, inviting Ryleigh here wasn't something she wanted.

'Hello, Mrs. Miller!' Ryleigh tried to exude enthusiasm but was met with an odd expression on Mrs. Miller's face.

As they sat down and ate, Mrs. Miller started speaking to Ryleigh. 'So Ryleigh, can I ask you something?' Ryleigh was overjoyed, maybe they did want to get to know her.

'What happened to your hands?' Mrs. Miller asked, not even trying to hide her disgust.

Ryleigh immediately felt sick to her stomach, she looked at Michael with pleading eyes but he just shrugged his shoulders. 'Um...I can't really answer that.'

'What do you mean? Surely you have a mouth... wait you're not, um mentally challenged are you? Do you know what I'm saying?' Mrs. Miller remarked in mock pity.

Ryleigh was enraged, clenching her fists under the table, controlling herself from yelling back at this rude, insensitive woman. Why would someone even say that? 'No, I am not.' Ryleigh managed to say with a smile.

Mrs. Miller cackled with laughter. Turning to Michael, she said, 'Mic, don't you think that Sarah has far nicer hands than those ugly, scarred ones.' That comment stung Ryleigh hard. She dug her nails into her hands, wishing for them to be gone. Michael remained silent and looked down at the table, unsure of what to do.

'Look Mic, Sarah is a smart, pretty girl who can answer questions without a problem.' Mrs. Miller continued. Ryleigh recoiled at her words, she took a deep breath, holding in the tears that were threatening to fall.

Facing Ryleigh, Mrs. Miller looked at her condescendingly. 'Awww, Ryleigh sweetheart, don't feel bad. Your scars are repulsive but I'm sure you'll find a guy that'll tolerate them. If you don't, that's just too bad.'

That was it. She couldn't take anymore of those patronizing remarks. Ryleigh broke. 'I have to go.' She said in a shaky voice. Her tears already pouring down her face. Dashing out the apartment, she heard Michael call her name but she ignored him and he didn't come after her. As she walked on the street, she unraveled her hair and scratched her hands hard.

The moment when so much anger builds up but in a second, turns into tears was the worst. Ryleigh wished she had retaliated. She wished she hadn't just let that black-hearted woman get away with saying those awful words. But what could she have said? Feeling hot tears stream down her face, she hated the feeling. The feeling of weakness. She had just let that horrible woman degrade her like a piece of trash.

She found a bench and sat down, sobbing her heart out. Why did they have to mention her scars? Were they really so repulsive? Was she really not enough for Michael? Was Sarah the one he loved? Ryleigh looked at her scars and instantly closed her eyes. 'They are ugly.' She said through sobs.

Why did she have to have these disgusting scars all over her body? She hated Mrs. Miller, she hated her mother, she hated Michael and most of all she hated herself. She hated that she still couldn't escape her past. After so long, it still haunted her.

Not wanting to burden Gwen anymore, Ryleigh decided to stay on the streets until 12am when Gwen was asleep. Then, she would return to the apartment. So that's what she did. She laid on the bench, feeling lost and alone in this huge city of New York.