Chapter 3: Bearing the pain

“Please, Dad, I won’t do it again!” she cries, backing into the corner. But her dad, John, doesn’t stop. He raises the belt and strikes her across the legs, then her back as she curls into a ball, trying to shield herself. Her sobs echo in the room, but John was too blinded by his anger to stop until her cries become gasps for air.

When John finally drops the belt, after what felt like hours Mia lies trembling on the floor. Her legs and back were red with blood gushing out, and a thin line of broken skin on her arm bleeds lightly where the belt’s edge had caught her. She feels a searing pain in her back every time she moves. John leaves the room with a bottle of alcohol without a word, muttering under his breath “such a slut, might as well earn some money with her body.”

That night, Mia lies awake in her bed, unable to find a comfortable position because of the stinging cuts. She bites her lip to stop herself from crying too loudly, terrified her father might hear. Mia woke up regained consciousness to excruciating torment, her body crusted with dried blood, each movement sending waves of pain through her.

She wore a long sleeves hoodie and loose baggy jeans to her morning job at the café the next day, the first thing she could hear was Katie shouting a hello.

 Katie's frozed on the spot, looking at Mia's face "Miaaa, my baby, are you okay?", Looking worried as Mia was limping, and her face looked very pale "what happened to you?, why are you so pale? Did something happen?",

"I'm all right Katie, I just couldn't sleep and wasn't able to eat my breakfast this morning, so don't worry I'm alright",

Katie slightly yelled while lightly holding onto Mia's face "DON'T WORRY???? Mia listen to me, okay?, you look realllllly pale, and because you didn't eat or sleep this morning, it doesn't mean you'll look THIS pale!!!",

"Katieeee your being overly dramatic I-

"OVERLY DRAMATIC???" Katie let out a huge sigh. "OK, first eat, 'cause your shift has already started, and you look like you might pass out any second."

Katie gave a plate of a sandwich and a drink across the table towards Mia, who slumped onto the seat with a groan.

"I'm fine," Mia muttered, rubbing her temples. "I just—"

"didn't eat breakfast, barely slept, and now you're drained?" Katie finished for them, crossing her arms. "Yeah, I can see that."

Mia grabbed the sandwich. "Not my fault I look this pale."

Katie sighed again, softer this time. "Look, I get it. But if you collapse in the middle of your morning part-time job, guess who has to deal with that mess?"

Mia sighed. "You?"

"Exactly," Katie shot back. "So eat. And if you even think about skipping the morning shift, I will tell Mr. James you're sick, and he'll send you home."

Mia groaned, but picked up the sandwich. "Fine. But if I die from exhaustion, I'm going to haunt you ."

"whatever," Katie said, shaking her head with a small smile.

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