A Whole New Life; Book 2: Alone

Chapter 12

Jennifer's POV

I'm so glad Aqua didn't try to skip dinner. I'm still a little on edge from when the doctor told us that Aqua has manic depression. And it was something she had for a long time. And nobody knew as it got worse over the years. When Aqua went to rinse out her dish, I noticed a scar on her back that must be a big scar and most of it must be hidden under her shirt. I nudge Josh in the arm and point to the visible part of the scar on Aqua's back. He suddenly gets what I'm trying to tell him.

"Aqua? How did you get that scar on your back?" I ask her.

"W-w-what s-s-scar?" she stutters.

"It's okay, Aqua. You can tell us," said Josh. Aqua stands still. I walk over to her.

"Are you sure?" she asks.

"Yes," I said. Aqua nods her head as I guid her to the chair and she sits. I pull her shirt off revealing a lot of scars on her back. Thank god Aqua was wearing a bra. I look at the scars on her back realizing that she couldn't have done this to herself. Someone did this to her.

"What happened to you?" Josh asks as he places a hand on Aqua's back. Aqua flinches.

"Who did this to you?" I ask trying my hardest not to cry. So much happened to Aqua during her life and she never told anyone.

"I was twelve at the time. I haven't eaten all day. I got really hungry so I snuck downstairs hoping to find something to eat before someone caught me. One of the employees caught me. She grabbed me by the arm and dragged me out of the kitchen. She grabbed something. I don't know what it was. She lifted up my shirt and started hitting me in the back with it. I wanted to cry. She hated me because I was so different. She called me disrespectful because I didn't talk. She called me a heartless disrespectful brat. She hit me a lot of times before grabbing me by the back of my neck and throwing me outside. In the rain. She threw my shirt at me and locked me out. I put my shirt back on as fast as I can. I looked in the trash cans to see if there was anything to eat. I know it seems gross to eat out of a trash can. But I was desperate for something to eat. I couldn't find anything. I only found an old blanket and used it to keep myself dry and warm. Within minutes, the blanket became soaked along with my body. I was shivering constantly. I suddenly started to sneeze every fifteen seconds. Suddenly, a car stopped in front of the orphanage. A boy about my age came out. He had freckles all over his face. He took out a large piece of cardboard and placed it on top of two trash cans to cover my head. Then he gave me some bread, apples and a bottle of water. Before he left, he told me,'Hang in there. You're going to make it.' And then he left. I was so hungry so I ate five pieces of bread, two apples and half a water bottle. The next morning, Sherry found me outside and brought me back inside. I had a really bad cold so she was with me most of the time. I was glad the boy stopped to give me some food and a roof over my head," said Aqua. I suddenly felt tears run down my cheeks. I just can't believe people would do this to Aqua. She was just trying to feed herself. I want to know who the boy was. I want to thank him for noticing Aqua and giving her some food and a roof over her head.

"Well, if you happen to run into that boy again, thank him for saving part of your life," I said as I give her the shirt back.

"I already know who it is now," Aqua said as she pulls her shirt over her head.

"Who is it?" Josh asks.

"Cameron," said Aqua.