Chapter 23 - Trauma

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Wednesday, June, 1st 2023

In the depths of a fractured relationship, a mother's words struck like a jagged blade. "I wish I never had you," she hissed, her bitterness poisoning the room.

The young girl, her heart breaking, could only muster a weak plea.

"Mum..." she whispered, longing for a love that seemed forever out of reach.

They stood in a modest living room, the faded wallpaper peeling at the edges. The afternoon sunlight filtered through worn curtains, casting a muted glow on their strained interaction. The air felt heavy, as if burdened by the weight of their unresolved conflicts and unspoken pain.

Her face, once radiant and hopeful, contorted with a mixture of disbelief and anguish. Her brows furrowed, forming deep furrows of pain across her forehead. The corners of her lips trembled, her mouth hanging slightly open in a silent plea for understanding. Tears welled up in her eyes, their shimmering presence mirroring the shattered fragments of her heart.

Her gaze, searching and desperate, fixated on her mother's face. Her eyes, once filled with trust and adoration, now mirrored the cracks of betrayal. They pleaded silently for a flicker of warmth, a glimmer of the love that seemed to have evaporated from their bond. Her cheeks, stained with tears, bore the weight of her sorrow, glistening with a mixture of dampness and hurt.

The young girl's voice, barely above a whisper, trembled with vulnerability and longing. "Mum..." she repeated, her word lingering in the air like a fragile plea for connection. Her voice carried a tinge of hope, a yearning for reconciliation in the face of such painful words.

She reached out with a hesitant hand, her fingers trembling in the air, as if hoping to bridge the chasm that had formed between them. Her face, etched with a delicate mixture of fear and longing, spoke volumes of the love she still harboured for her mother, despite the wounds inflicted upon her tender heart.

The room, with its worn-out furniture and faded memories, stood as a witness to their fractured relationship. Its walls seemed to ache with the weight of their unspoken turmoil, as if silently urging them to mend what had been broken.

Tap, Tap, Tap

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The room filled with an uncomfortable silence, punctuated only by the distant sounds of their shallow breaths. The weight of their unspoken frustrations hung in the air, a suffocating tension that threatened to explode at any moment. Their faces became canvases, revealing the storm brewing within.

The lines on his forehead deepened, etching a map of anger and frustration. His brows furrowed, drawing together like dark thunderclouds, as his eyes blazed with an intensity that bordered on madness. His jaw clenched tightly, his muscles taut with fury, as his face contorted into a mask of seething rage.

His clenched jaw and tightly drawn lips mirrored the tension in the room. The corner of his mouth twisted into a snarl, revealing his contempt and dissatisfaction. The walls, adorned with family portraits frozen in happier times, seemed to peer down at him, their eyes filled with a silent plea for understanding.

"YOU FUCKING BITCH, GO GET ME MY FUCKING BEER!" he roared, his voice booming with a venomous force that reverberated through the room. The corners of his mouth twisted into a snarl, his lips curling with contempt. His words sliced through the air like a knife, leaving a palpable sting in their wake.

She recoiled, her body shrinking back as if physically struck. The tears welled up in her eyes, glistening like fragile crystals on the precipice of shattering. Her lower lip quivered, betraying the depth of her hurt and fear. The vulnerability in her eyes was stark, a mirror reflecting the pain she felt inside.

"S-sorry, Dad...."

The living room, once a haven of comfort and familiarity, now bore witness to their fractured relationship. The worn carpet under their feet seemed to absorb the weight of their emotions, its fibers tangled with the heaviness of their shared history. The ticking of the antique clock on the wall became a metronome of unease, counting the seconds of their strained existence.

Tap, Tap, Tap

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Maria woke up with a jolt, her scream piercing the silence of the dorm room. "No, Mom, Dad, don't leave!" she cried out, her voice laced with pain and desperation.

The memories of her fractured past clawed its way back into her consciousness, tearing through the calm of the night.

The room was cast in a soft, ambient glow from the moonlight filtering through the windows.

As Maria's cries echoed, the other five girls in the dorm stirred, their concern drawing them from their beds.

Clad in mismatched pajamas, one in polka dots, another in stripes, they hurried over to Maria's bedside, their eyes wide with worry.

"Maria, what's wrong?" one of the girls asked, her voice filled with genuine concern, her pajamas adorned with cartoon characters.

The room felt alive with a medley of murmurs, shuffling feet, and the occasional creak of the floorboards as the girls moved to comfort their distressed friend.

Maria's argent eyes were clouded with tears, her blue hair tousled from sleep.

Maria's sudden cry pierced the tranquility of the dorm room, causing the other five girls to stir from their slumber. Clara, her hair tied in a loose bun, was the first to rise.

She wore a nightgown adorned with fluffy clouds and stars.

Her eyes widened with concern as she rushed to Maria's bedside, the motion causing her bedside lamp to flicker faintly.

"Maria, what's happening?" Clara asked, her brows furrowing with worry. Her lips parted slightly, her heart aching at the sight of her friend's distress.

Lena, with her tousled curls cascading down her shoulders, joined Clara. She wore pajamas covered in colorful stripes.

Her hazel eyes reflected a mix of concern and care as she knelt beside Maria, her hand reaching out tentatively to offer comfort.

On the other side of the room, Emily and Sophia exchanged quick glances before hurrying over.

Emily's freckled face contorted with concern, her oversized T-shirt depicting a favorite band of hers.

Sophia, in her long-sleeved pajamas adorned with tiny hearts, had a gentle, worried expression on her face.

She placed a hand on Emily's shoulder, her eyes silently communicating their shared concern for Maria.

The room buzzed with whispered reassurances, the rustling of blankets, and the creaking of the wooden floor under their hurried footsteps.

Maria, her argent eyes filled with tears, looked around at her friends' faces. Her blue hair was disheveled, strands falling across her cheeks as she struggled to contain her sobs.

"Please, don't go..." Maria whimpered, her voice choked with emotion. Her fingers trembled as she clutched the bedsheets, her knuckles turning white from the strain.

Clara leaned in, her gaze soft yet determined. "Maria, we're here. You're not alone," she said, her voice unwavering as she gently placed a hand on Maria's shoulder.

Her expression conveyed both empathy and a steadfast resolve to comfort her friend.

Lena reached out, her hand hovering near Maria's arm, uncertain but eager to offer solace.

Her hazel eyes shimmered with unshed tears, mirroring the anguish reflected in Maria's argent gaze.

Emily bit her lip, her gaze darting between Maria and the others. Her freckles seemed to deepen against her flushed cheeks, a mix of worry and helplessness etched on her face.

She wrung her hands in empathy, wanting desperately to ease Maria's pain.

Sophia, with her kind eyes, leaned closer, her hand gently brushing Maria's hair in a tender gesture of support.

Her heart ached for her friend, evident in the crease of concern between her brows and the small, compassionate smile she offered.

The room filled with the symphony of Maria's sobs, the whispered assurances of her friends, and the rustling of blankets as they drew closer, surrounding Maria in a circle of unwavering support and care.

In the soft glow of the moonlight seeping through the sheer curtains, the dorm room took on a serene, ethereal quality.

The silvery beams cast gentle shadows across the room, illuminating the space with a calming ambiance.

The walls adorned with posters of favorite bands and inspirational quotes seemed to absorb the tranquil radiance, while the rustle of leaves outside added a soothing rhythm to the night.

Amidst the moon-kissed room, Maria's tears flowed freely as she apologized, her voice trembling with sorrow. "I-I'm sorry, guys. I didn't mean to wake you up again."

Her words were punctuated by choked sobs, her hands covering her face in anguish.

Clara, her eyes reflecting the shimmering moonlight, leaned closer, placing a hand on Maria's trembling shoulder. "Maria, it's okay. We're here for you," she reassured, her voice gentle yet firm, a quiet beacon of support.

Lena, her hazel eyes shimmering with compassion, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Maria, we care about you. You don't have to apologize for needing us," she said softly, her words carrying a soothing cadence.

Emily, her freckled cheeks now damp with empathy, reached out to pat Maria's hand. "Exactly! We're friends. We stick together through the good and the bad," she affirmed, a hint of determination in her voice.

Sophia, with her comforting smile, chimed in, "Yeah, Maria, and remember, it's okay to let it out. That's what friends are for," she said, her voice tender and supportive.

Amidst Maria's tears, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips, a glimmer of warmth amid her sorrow. Then, one of the girls lightened the mood, "Hey, at least they can't call you a tough cookie, huh? Always making us show our caring sides," she teased gently, a playful sparkle in her eyes.

Maria's smile grew, albeit through tears, and soon, a chorus of gentle laughter filled the room. The tension dissolved, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and understanding.

The moonlight, now casting a tranquil hue over the scene, seemed to embrace them in its calming embrace.

Maria, her argent eyes shining with gratitude, looked at her friends. Her blue hair slightly tousled, yet her expression held a newfound sense of comfort amidst the emotional storm.

Clara, Lena, Emily, and Sophia, each with their unique personalities and comforted and surrounded Maria, their faces bearing expressions of unwavering support and friendship.

As their laughter echoed in the moonlit room, the rustle of leaves outside seemed to dance in harmony with their joy, creating a symphony of reassurance and closeness amidst the tranquility of the night.