It was another new day. The morning sun hurt my eyes. I shielded them as I walked to work. My uniform felt scratchy. Had I washed it? I couldn't remember.
The diner was just ahead. A group of women blocked the sidewalk. I recognized them, sort of. They came to the diner sometimes, I thought. I tried to slip past, but had no luck. "Well, if it isn't Weirdo Willow," one said. Her voice was sharp, mean.
I kept my head down, hoping they would leave me alone.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" She grabbed my arm, and I flinched.
"Who are you? Don't bother me, I don't know you," I murmured. My voice shook.They laughed, and it wasn't a nice sound.
"Aw, is the little freak scared?" another taunted. "Maybe if you brushed your hair once in a while, people wouldn't be so freaked out by you."
I touched my hair. It was tangled. I had forgotten to brush it, again.
"I bet she can't even remember how to use a brush," the first one said. "Can you, Willow? Can you remember anything at all?"
Tears stung my eyes, and I blinked hard.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Or did you forget how to talk, too?"
They closed in on me. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think.
"Go away! Stay away from me!" I wanted to scream.
The blonde woman in the lead pinched my chin and slapped my face with her hand. "Speak up, freak! Seeing you like this, I just want to hit you."
Her hands were like pliers. I wanted to break free, but the two girls next to me gripped my arms tightly.
"Hey!" A familiar voice cut through the fog. Zoe. "Back off!"
Zoe pushed through the group and stood in front of me, her eyes flashing with anger.
"Oh look, it's Willow's bodyguard," one of them sneered.
Zoe didn't back down. "I said back off. Now."
There was a moment of tension, then the group stepped back.
"Whatever," the leader said. "Have fun babysitting the freak."
They walked away, laughing. I was shaking.
Zoe turned to me, her face softening. "Are you okay, Willow?"
I nodded, but it was a lie. We both knew it.
"Come on," Zoe said gently. "Let's get inside."
The diner was quiet. It was early, and the smell of coffee filled the air.
"Want to talk about it?" Zoe asked as we put on our aprons.
I shrugged. What was there to say?
Zoe sighed. "You can't let them get to you, Willow. They're just mean girls who never grew up."
"They're right, though," I whispered. "I am a freak."
Zoe grabbed my shoulders and looked me in the eye. "No, you're not. You're just... different. And that's okay."
I wanted to believe her, but the voices in my head said otherwise.
The day dragged on. Customers came and went. I took orders, brought food, and tried to remember names and faces. It was hard.
Afternoon came, and the diner was busy. Zoe and I rushed around.
"Willow!" the cook called. "We're out of ketchup. Can you grab some from the storage room?"
I nodded. The storage room—small, dark. I didn't like it, but I went.
The door creaked as I opened it. It was dark inside, and I fumbled for the light switch. Where was it?
Suddenly, there was a push from behind. I stumbled forward, and the door slammed shut.
Darkness, complete darkness.
I spun around, grabbing the doorknob. It didn't turn. Locked.
A girl's giggling voice sounded outside the door, receding with cheerful footsteps.
"Hello?" I called out. My voice echoed in the small space. "Anyone there?"
Silence.
Panic rose in my chest, and I banged on the door. "Let me out! Please!"
Nothing.
The darkness pressed in. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think.
Flashes in my mind—a dark forest, screams, fire.
I slid to the floor, curling into a ball. Tears streamed down my face. I felt like I was about to suffocate.
Time passed. I didn't know how much—minutes? Hours?
Then, a sound. The door opened, and light flooded in.
"Willow?" It was Zoe. She knelt beside me. "Oh my god, Willow! What happened?"
I couldn't speak, couldn't move. Zoe wrapped her arms around me. I could only grip her arm tightly, trembling.
"It's okay," she soothed. "You're safe now. I've got you." She patted my back and wiped my tears.
Slowly, the panic eased. I uncurled and looked at Zoe. "Someone... someone locked me in," I managed to say.
Anger flashed in Zoe's eyes. "Who? Who did this?"
I shook my head. "I don't know. I didn't see. I only heard the laughter of a young girl."
"Those stinking bitches!" She muttered a curse under her breath, and then she helped me stand. My legs were shaky, and she led me out of the storage room.
The diner was quiet now. How long had I been in there?
"Closing time," Zoe explained, seeing my confusion. "I couldn't find you. Then I heard noises from the storage room."
Shame washed over me. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
Zoe's face softened. "Hey, no. My dear, this isn't your fault. Someone did this to you. And when I find out who..." She trailed off, her fists clenched. "Let's get you home," she said after a moment.
The walk home was a blur. Zoe talked softly the whole way. I didn't really hear the words, but her voice was comforting. It seemed to remind me of my mother. Mother? Who was my mother?
At my apartment, Zoe hesitated. "Will you be okay alone? I can stay if you want."
I shook my head. "I'll be fine," I lied. "Thanks, Zoe."
She hugged me tight. "Call me if you need anything. Promise?"
I nodded, another lie. I wouldn't call. I didn't want to bother her anymore.
But after she left, I regretted it. Inside, I collapsed on my bed. The room spun. Memories flashed through my mind—the storage room, the forest, screams, fire.
I pressed my hands to my head. Make it stop. Please make it stop.
Sleep came eventually, but it wasn't peaceful.
I dreamt of running through a dark forest. Something chased me. I was scared, so scared.
Then I was in the storage room again. But... no! No, that wasn't right. This wasn't a storage room. It was bigger, darker. Flames licked at the walls. Blood, there was blood, and there was a lot of blood coming out.