Naked (Wattys 2022)

Part 1

Hello everyone! I hope you are well? If you've gotten this far, thank you.

Please, enjoy.

-Love, Jane.

***

I stared at the liquor with blurred vision. Smiling, I gulped down the last of what made me remotely sane. It was the first time alcohol ever touched my lips.

"Another." The burning sensation the liquor
left behind was something I anticipated in excitement. The bartender, Sam, shook his head in disapproval. I came to know Sam a  few years ago as we shared the same orphanage.

"Eli. You need to stop. Liquor ain't a good way to deal with your problems. Why are you doing this? It's a first to see you in any type of pain. " I looked away. If I stared at him I'd  feel more guilty, more disgusted with myself.

The brown liquid filled half the cup and due to Sam's constant disapproval I chugged it and left.

The air was cold but pleasant.  Empty was what I felt, and I loved every second of it. I walked mindlessly until I came across a lit store. Since I wasn't drunk enough I decided to head inside. I took a six pack and then proceeded to grab another.

I opened a can of beer as I walked towards the till. Propping my elbow on the counter I watched the cashier scan the items.

"What happened to you?" She asked bluntly and I stared at the blood dripping from my hand.

"Accident." I payed and left. I sat down on the pavement not being able to walk much further.

I crunched the can within my hand and threw it behind me. I opened another. The liquid spilt from the sides of my mouth as I couldn't keep my hand steady anymore.

This was it, this was the only way I could survive.

I heard footsteps and with blurry vision I looked to my right. There was no one in sight until a group of raggedy men noticed my presence.

They were definitely up to no good by the looks of it. I for one couldn't care less.

"I don't have money." I slurred before the person in front could utter a syllable. He chuckled vehemently, clearly thinking what came out of my mouth was a lie.

They tugged my jacket forward whilst said guy punched me in the face. My head bobbed to the side as blood trailed down my lip.

I grinned. Which earned me a confused stare. He was starting to get frustrated as I continued to irk him unintentionally. They scratched around in my pockets and found absolutely nothing, which made them more vexated.

Someone else's fist collided with my jaw and the group of men laughed together like hyenas. My response was a simple smile which resulted in my neck being gripped and my body being slammed down on the concrete.

As I shifted in and out of consciousness whilst getting beaten I couldn't help but feel at ease, but then, it stopped.

They scattered away. Confusion littered my face as I heard multiple footsteps run towards me.

"Hey, can you hear me? Don't close your eyes please!" Hands were placed on both sides of my face. I blinked slowly trying to see who the person was but to no avail.

Drops landed on skin and for a second I thought it was about to rain, but they weren't raindrops, they were tears.

***

My eyelids parted and the harsh rays of the sun were completely dissatisfying.

The doctor stared at me and proceeded to ask whether I was okay or not.

"I'm fine." Was all I said before he explained to me what happened.

"There was someone waiting for you for an entire week. They said they'd return later in order to check up on you once again." Check on me? I did not want to see her right now. The mere thought of Emily seeing me in this state made my stomach churn.

"In your condition, I do recommend that you stay for a longer period of time. You have a fractured rib, a head injury and so many more bruises across your body."

"I'm okay." and I was. The pain was nothing.

The doctor could not force me to stay. It was difficult and tiresome to get dressed but I couldn't bring myself to head to her house just yet.

I stared at myself in the mirror and noticed the bruises on my face. I wasn't alarmed nor embarrassed. I just smiled.

I left limping but before I could exit the hospital someone gripped my shoulders. He was as tall as me. Black hair, dark brown eyes and a very fair complection that made him stand out. 

He had evident bags under his eyes and a disheveled mount of curls on top of his head.

"Why are you out of bed?" He asked in such a tone that my argument got stuck in my throat.

I kept quiet, waiting patiently for him to tell me who he was.

"Do you not remember me?" He questioned and I shook my head. He mumbled something incoherently before pushing me in the direction of the room.

"I can't stay here."

"I'll take you to another hospital." He was insistent on the matter.

"Should I really be troubling you? Are you not occupied with other activities?" I questioned but he shook his head with a slight grin

He had the same facial expression that Emily had.

"Let's go." He gripped my hand interrupting my thoughts, pulling me towards the exit like an anchor. As he led me to the door I couldn't help but be relieved that I wasn't carrying myself, even if it was for a few miniscule minutes.