It's been a week since that horrifying incident, and my parents haven't bothered to check on me. They're more concerned about their precious reputation than their own child's well-being. When I needed them the most, all they did was scold me while I was drowning in tears. It was surprising that they didn't resort to physical violence this time, but their emotional neglect cut deeper.
Since then, I've locked myself away in my room, isolated from the world. The only one who has shown any care is Sarah, my younger sister. She's been leaving food outside my door, making sure I don't go hungry. She's the only genuine person in this family, the only one who still seems to have compassion. But we all used to be like that once, didn't we?
Amira and Zainab, my two elder sisters, have lost hope just like me. Life has beaten us down, making us lose faith in the goodness of this world. We're trapped in a cruel existence, and it's suffocating me.
As I gazed out of the window, wrapped in a blanket, the chilly wind howled violently, rattling the trees. The sky was filled with gray clouds, foretelling an impending storm. It mirrored the turmoil within me, a reflection of my inner world.
Why, God? Why am I imprisoned in this torturous life? Perhaps it's time for me to surrender, to escape from this wretched hellhole. I stood in front of the mirror, my reflection a mess. My puffy, tear-stained eyes stared back at me, my disheveled hair a chaotic tangle, and my nose red from endless weeping.
And then it started again—the voices in my head.
"You're hideous."
"You're worthless."
"You're nothing but a failure."
Have you seen yourself? Look at what you've become.
"No!" I screamed, desperate to drown out those malicious whispers. I collapsed to the floor, wrenching at my hair in frustration.
Yes, you are ugly. You should just end it.
Nobody will ever love you.
Even God despises you; that's why he lets you suffer.
"Get out!" I shouted, my anger building up. I grabbed the nearest vase and hurled it, shattering the mirror into countless shards. They flew through the air, some piercing my skin, but I felt nothing. Numbness consumed me entirely.
God, why are you doing this to me? The voices grew louder, echoing my parents' insults every time I glimpsed my reflection. They were right. I'm a complete nobody. I have no right to exist in this merciless world. It's time to put an end to this torment.
Who would even care if I disappeared? No one.
Perhaps one final breath wouldn't harm anyone. With blood dripping from my feet and arms, I selected one jagged piece from the broken mirror and made my way to the bathroom, tears streaming down my face.
I stepped into the shower, letting scalding water cascade over my body, soaking my clothes and exacerbating the pain of my wounds. I crumpled to the ground, overwhelmed and exhausted. In my despair, I reached out to God, pleading for forgiveness, confessing that I couldn't bear this agony any longer.
The bathroom floor became a haunting tableau of blood mingled with memories. The echoes of my parents' screams filled my mind as I recalled countless instances of running to my room in tears. That was it. Just one cut, and I could end not only my misery but also theirs. I raised the broken shard, ready to bring it down on my skin.
But then, amidst the tumultuous storm within me, I heard...