Forever Scars

Restoring Hope

It was despairing. It was hopeless. As the days went by, her emotions got the better of her, making her say things or do things that were unforgivable. She became a control freak of a manager, a horrible friend but underneath it all was a hopelessly heartbroken person.

She hated herself. She hated the choices that she made. Everything about everyone just enraged her. So much resentment was pulsing through her veins, it made her insufferable to be around. Holly stopped eating with her; Jacob stopped joking with her; Kelsey stopped coming to her for advice.

It was her day off and as usual, she wanted to work but Mr. Dudley insisted that she does not come to the bakery because apparently it was illegal to work off the clock. With Gwen out with her college friends again, she spent the day in solitude.

Out of the blue, there was a knock on the door. Gwen has warned before her to always check who's at the door before opening it. Cautiously, she marched towards the door and shouted out, 'Who is it?'

'Your mother!' Kate's annoyingly high pitched voice answered back. Ryleigh rolled her eyes. She could just pretend that it was a stranger and refuse to open the door but then her father would be on her case about it.

Reluctantly, she she opened the door. 'Hello, Ryleigh!' Kate greeted with a fake smile.

'You will never be my mother. Don't use that word.' Ryleigh gritted through her teeth.

'Oh I know that.' Kate sneered. 'But um...I brought your mother to come say hi.'

Her whole body stiffened as trepidation took over her body. 'What the hell did you do?' Ryleigh demanded.

Kate smirked and turned her head to the side. 'Laura, your daughter is right here. Come right in!'

'Kate, what did you do?'Ryleigh repeated in a low voice. Her answer came right after when her mother appeared before her eyes, dressed in a faded t-shirt and some old jeans. She looked atrocious with her sunken cheeks, her scrawny physique and her dull eyes. She hardly looked like a living being.

Her mother's eyes widened at her sight. The last time she saw Ryleigh, she was extremely thin and not quite as tall. The Ryleigh that stood before her was a grown woman, with voluptuous curves and healthy round cheeks.

'You.' Her mother spoke and immediately coughed and coughed, gasping for air. The marijuana she had been smoking daily sure didn't help her respiratory system. Moreover, she reeked of booze and had a pungent smell of body odour. God knows the last time she took a bath.

'Mother.' Ryleigh replied.

'You wretched child! You ungrateful little...' Her mother screeched as she raised her hand, lunging forward to smack Ryleigh.

Ryleigh was agile and simply dodged her hit, making her take a tumble to the ground. 'Don't you dare.' Ryleigh was sick of keeping silent, she was sick of the abuse. Now that she's more grown up, she has a voice and she will use it.

Seeing Ryleigh's mother struggle to get back up, Kate stepped in and hoisted her up. 'There you go, Laura.'

'Kate, I have no idea what the hell you're trying to do but I'm telling you now, you will regret it.' Ryleigh shouted.

Scowling at Ryleigh, Kate said, 'Whatever. She is your mother.'

'Don't go there, Kate.' Ryleigh warned with ferocious eyes.

'What! I'm saying the truth. Don't you want to give your mom a hug or something.' Kate smirked.

'I swear Kate if you...'

Seeing that Ryleigh was consumed with rage and anger, her mother took the opportunity and scratched her face with her long, sharp nails twice. It happened so fast, Ryleigh had no time to react.

'Ahh...' Ryleigh touched her cheek that was dripping with fresh blood, too many memories of misery flickered through her mind.

'I told you brat, don't ever fight back!' Her mother said in raspy voice.

'Yes, brat. Don't fight back.' Kate repeated.

'Shut the hell up Kate!' Ryleigh roared through her pain.

All of a sudden, her mother went ballistic and screamed, 'How dare you come here without my permission! How dare you!' Ryleigh saw her hand coming this time and smacked it hard, preventing her mother from hurting her again.

'You little...Do you even know how I had to live back in that stupid house! No money! Nothing!' Her mother yelled.

'Take her away, Kate!' Ryleigh screamed more as a plea than as a command.

'This does not concern me.' Kate said nonchalantly before she sauntered away.

'Come back to Navesland.' Her mother gripped her hand firmly and tried to pull her out of Gwen's apartment.

With all her strength, Ryleigh pushed her away, making her fall to the floor. 'Go away!' She screamed at the top of her lungs before slamming the door shut.

Making her way to her bedroom, she closed the door and collapsed onto the floor. Touching the wound on her cheek only reminded her of the pain of the past. She let it happen again.

She sniffled quietly as tears streamed down her cheeks. When the moisture landed on her fresh wound, it burned. But the pain didn't stop her from crying her heart out.

Everything that she tried to keep within all flooded out. If Parker was here, he would tell her that everything would be okay. If Parker wa here, he would comfort her and let her cry onto his shoulder. If only Parker was here...

That was it. She couldn't pretending anymore. She loved him. It was the truth.Getting up from the floor, she struggled to her bed and got her phone.After frantically dialling his number that she had memorised by heart, she waited for his voice. She needed to hear him, even if it was just for a second.

She cried as she waited. What if he didn't pick up? What if he didn't want to pick up?

'Hello?' Parker's voice came through.

'Parker...Parker...' she sobbed. Words couldn't describe the joy pulsing through her veins as he answered.

'Ryleigh, what's wrong? Are you alright?' Parker asked worriedly.

'I...I miss you so much...please come back to me.' Ryleigh pleaded.

'Ryleigh, we've gone through this. I can't keep chasing after you when you're clearly out of my reach.' Parker said.

'No...no. Please, I do love you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I should've. I love you so much that without you, I'm a mess.' Ryleigh confessed between sobs.

After a long pause, he finally spoke. 'Are you certain?'

'Yes, please Parke. I can't stand not having you around...' Ryleigh cried even harder as she sensed the indifference in his voice. Had he forgotten her? Had he moved on from her?

'Why are you crying? Is everything alright?'

'Yes...no. No, everything has gone downhill. Everyone hates me, no one talks to me anymore and my mother just came...' Her voice broke at the word 'mother'.

'What! Ryleigh, are you okay? What did she do?'

'No, I'm not. Kate brought her here and she scratched my face. I look awful now.' Saying the words, Ryleigh stood up to look at the mirror. She instantly closed her eyes. Why was she so scarred, so ugly?

'Don't ever say that.' Parker said firmly. 'You're the most beautiful girl I've ever met. Stay calm, don't act recklessly. I'll be on the first plane back to New York.'

'Wh...What?'

'I've missed you too.' Parker ended the call at those words. That simple sentence from Parker restored hope in Ryleigh and she could not wait to see him again.