the neighborHood blues

/3/superheroes are born

A week had passed since my birthday, meaning a week had passed since my attack. I had taken three showers everyday since then, but I couldn't get the feeling of his fingers off of me. The scent of the cabin lingered on me, no matter how hard I scrubbed myself. Seeing the bruises on my wrists and hips everyday didn't help either. They were constant reminders that my body's sovereignty was stripped from me, as if it never belonged to me at all.

Standing underneath the near scalding water, I clasped my hands on the sides of my neck as I let the water run down my body. Not even the extreme heat of the shower could wash away the feeling of disembodiment; I couldn't look at myself in the mirror without seeing someone else. I didn't feel like me anymore, and I didn't know if I ever would again.

I turned the water off after it got colder, wrapping a towel around my body as I stepped out of the tub. My hair dripped down my back as I started to pick out my kinks, then blow drying it to elongate it enough to brush my hair into a ponytail. Slicking my hair down with styling gel, I gathered my hair into a puff on top of my head and bound it tight. A low curse left me as I rummaged through my drawer for my edge brush, but couldn't find it. With a huff, I broke the handle of an old toothbrush and used it instead.

Once my hair was finished, I gripped the towel around my chest and waddled over to my room. Closing the door, I grabbed underwear from the drawer and slipped them on beneath the towel. I discard the towel after, then perused through my closet for something to wear. Pulling out a black knitted sweater, I jumped into a pair of jeans and tugged on my boots. I stuck my phone in my back pocket, slinging my purse over my shoulder and bounded down the stairs.

Entering the kitchen, I snagged an apple from the fruit basket on the table and took a bit while going to the living room. Momma sat on the couch, reading a book as music played quietly on the television. Bending over the back of the furniture, I kissed her cheek then headed for the door as I plucked my coat off the hook.

"Remember to stop by the supply store on your way home, please," she called after me.

"Yes, ma'am," I hollered back, then closed the front door behind me.

Skipping down the stairs, I almost slipped and fell on the last step but caught my balance. Not picking my feet up from the ground, I slid down the sidewalk to the car and used the hood of the car to walk around to the driver side. I tugged open the door, flopping down into the seat and starting the engine. Music played from the radio while heat blasted from the vents, and I let the seat back a little as I drove. Pops' comic book shop was about three miles from our house, so I took my time getting there as I drove through alleyways and on backstreets. When I arrived at the back of the shop, I parked and jogged up to the metal door.

Discarding my jacket on an empty chair, I snatched my name badge from the little hook on the wall and made my way to the front of the store. The front counter was empty as I looked around, not seeing my father anywhere. He must be outside somewhere. I plucked a comic book from one of the shelves, then hopped on the counter with my feet swinging as I flipped it open. When the door chimed, I looked up to see Pops coming in with another person behind him. Closing the comic, I jumped down from the counter and maneuvered around to stand behind it.

Pops greeted me with a smile as he carried in a box, and the boy trailed behind him as he set the box on the counter. I glanced between the two, raising an eyebrow in questioning.

"This is Dante, he's gonna do inventory for us," he said, and the boy waved over Pops' shoulder.

"What's up," I said, giving a quick nod.

Dante smiled as he nodded back, and followed Pops to the back of the store. I kicked my feet up on the counter, then read my comic as they busied themselves. It was still early in the day, so I didn't expect to get any business this morning. For an hour, I did nothing but read about my favorite superheroes and rearrange some of the shelving. As I was repositioning the books near the door, I looked out of the store front window and saw a police car speeding by. Its siren blared as the lights flashed, but the memory of the dark car pulling up beside me was all I could see.