Sheylia's P.O.V
I look up at the early navy sky with purple slowly starting to take over, as I let my feet take me wherever they feel is right.
The warm humid air wraps itself around my body as tears run down my face. A few cars driving by, creating a small wave of cool air brush by me.
I get taken out of my daze when I accidentally bump into someone.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I wasn't paying attention," I apologize as I turn and see who hit, a little old lady.
"No need to apologize dear-" she kindly says, but instantly stops when she finally looks at me. "Oh, what happened to you?" She asks, I can see the concern in her brown eyes. My eyes start to tear up. "Are you okay?" And with that question, I just broke down right in front of this woman. Crying non-stop, I curl into a ball on the pavement. My throat starting to get sore and hoarse, I extend my arms as I try to grab hold of something to support me, nothing. My cries echoing through the streets.
I then feel a pair of soft hands gently hold mine, making me sob even more. The woman starts to rub soothing circles over my back, hushing me down. Feelings of pain and anger but also sadness and fear, swarm my body. I tighten my grip on her hands.
"Shhh....it's okay honey, your safe now," her gentle voice reaching my ears, calming me down slightly. I look up and meet eyes with her, trying to find any sign of judgement in them. No judgement, just concerned but soft eyes. She is now crouching down so we are on the same level. "Let's get you somewhere more comfortable than the concrete pavement," she says as she slides her hand from my shoulder down to my trembling hands. "Where do you live?" She asks. I shake my head. I don't want to see anyone I know right now, I don't want to scare and worry them. "Okay, my house it is then," she kindly smiles, pulling me up.
She wraps her arms around me, holding me close, providing me protection.
The sky now a pale blue, more people are on the streets. Each time someone walks by, they either look at us with sadness or judgment. Whenever I make eye contact with a man I shrink even more. The woman seemed to notice because now every time a man would walk by I would feel her arms tighten around me.
After a bit, we arrived at a small cozy looking white house. She guided me to the front door and opened it. She closes the door and guides me up the stairs. "Let's get you out of these clothes now hmm?" I weakly nod. We enter a small bedroom; white walls with a pastel pink bed in the center, pictures of a girl in white and pink frames scattered around the room. "The bathroom is just over there so you can clean yourself up, there are towels in a basket, you will find them," she says. "If you need anything I will be downstairs getting you some breakfast."
"Thank you," I quietly say. She smiles softly before exiting the room, leaving me alone.
I walk to the bathroom and start to strip from my gross clothes. I look at myself in the mirror. My eyes start tearing up again as flashbacks swarm my head. Now I have you all to myself. I remember my struggle to breathe properly. I love you. I remember my body shaking in fear.
I shake the memories away. "I'm safe now...." I weakly say, trying to convince myself. I turn on the shower and step in. The hot water running down my body, soothing the bruises on my neck. Calming my heart and head. I take the strawberry scented shampoo and massage my head. After rinsing it out I do the same with it's matching conditioner. I raise my hands and try to hold the water, as I do so, I notice my bruised wrists so I move them slightly and let the water sooth them. Once I finished washing my body I turned the water off and stepped out.
I take a towel from the basket and dry my body off with it. After drying myself off, I wrap the towel around my small shoulders and leave the bathroom. I guess the lady came back in while I was in the shower because I spot a pile of clean clothes placed neatly at the end of the pink bed.
I let the towel fall from my body to the floor and start dressing myself. After putting the clothing on I look at my reflection in the mirror, the loose fitting white t-shirt and the soft pink floral patterned shorts warming my body. I quickly grab my dirty clothes and damp towel and place them in the laundry hamper.
Opening the white door, the scent of pancakes enters my nostrils making my stomach grumble. I walk down the stairs and follow the smell. In a few seconds I find myself in the kitchen.
"Hello dear, did you find everything okay?" The woman asks as she flips a pancake.
"Yes, thank you again, you really didn't have to," I say. She turns to me and says,
"What was I supposed to do when you looked like that, leave you alone?" I shift my gaze away from her.
"Well..no,"
"It's fine, I didn't have any plans for today anyway," she smiles, "take a seat the food is just about ready."
I walk over to the round wooden table and sit down on the cushioned chair. Food started to be placed on the table in front of me, making my mouth water. The lady sits down in front of me and starts taking some food for herself.
"Well, help yourself, eat as much as you want I don't want it to go to waste." She says. I start taking food, pancakes, eggs, bacon and sliced fruit. I pour the maple syrup over my pancakes and dig in. The sweet pancakes and the salty bacon satisfying my hungry stomach. I open the orange juice and fill my glass with it. The refreshing feeling of the cold liquid running down my throat.
"So, can you tell me a bit about yourself?" The lady suddenly asks. I swallow my food and look at her. I stuff my mouth with eggs and nod.