A/N So hey, my first Ghost whisperer one shot, hope ya'll like it (:
P.s im not a MAJOR gw fan like I know some of you are, so if I get silly things wrong, like their eye colour wrong, please don't judge too harshly =) x
Summary: Melinda had an abusive childhood. Based on the song, Beautiful, Melinda looks over her life, and how she got to where she is now. Most of the fic is flashbacks into her childhood (:
Everyday, its so wonderful…
The twittering of birds woke Melinda Gordon up. She yawned and stretched, careful not to jostle too much as she would wake up her husband, Jim. She got up, smoothing down her pale pink vintage lace nightdress. Running a hand through her bed hair, she walked downstairs. Looking at wall, she smiled at the pictures in the photo frames. The first one was of her and Delia, her best friend. Delia was more than a friend, she was like the sister Melinda never had. Melinda could always count on Delia, and she's forever grateful, especially as Melinda always needed someone to be there for her. Delia would never complain when Melinda called at 3am, crying because she had a nightmare, and didn't want to call Jim home from his shift at the hospital. Delia would calm her down, and stay on the phone with her, until she fell back asleep. Next picture, was of Melinda and the teenagers down at the centre, where she helped out, and volunteered to help counsel some of the kids that had abusive backgrounds. Next was her and Jim, at their wedding. It was such a beautiful and emotional day. Melinda remembers crying so much, her make up was everywhere but she didn't care, for she was truly happy. That was the happiest day of her life, for more reasons than one. She smiled, content, and walked away. In the kitchen, she began to make breakfast for her and Jim. She sat down at the table and sighed.
Then suddenly, its hard to breathe…
*Flashback*
"MELINDA! You fucking brat, where are you?" a mans voice thundered angrily. Melinda whimpered, terrified as she scrambled quickly to her feet. She cant keep him waiting.
Too late…
The bedroom door flew open, shaking the wall as it crashed against it. He stood 6'5 tall, with muscles snaking up his arms. His brown hair stood up on end, and his face was red from anger. His cold eyes were reduced to slits, and he was foaming at the mouth.
"What have you done?" he bellowed, right in Melinda's face. Melinda didn't have time to answer before she was belted across the face with a huge hand. She tumbled to the ground, tears gushing down her cheeks. Her cheek stung, and she was certain she would be left with a hand shaped bruise upon her face.
"I asked you a fucking question!" he shouted. Melinda looked at the floor before answering.
"I'm sorry, t-there was no food in the kitchen and I had to make your d-d-dinner, so I went to the s-shops." Melinda mumbled, regretting today's trip to the shop. It was true, and Melinda knew it was a win-win situation for him. If she didn't go to the shop, there would be no dinner for him, and he would hit her, and if she went to the shop, it was breaking one of his many rules: do not leave the house without my permission. If she broke any rules, he would make her suffer, dearly. She always referred to Tom, her father, as him, or Tom. In her eyes, he is not her father. He is a monster, an evil twisted monster and she is terrified of him.
"So you thought you would just walk out the fucking house? What if someone recognised your ugly face, and seen the marks, you stupid little bitch! Make me my dinner now, and I will deal with you later." he snarled, spitting on the floor and walking out. Tremors wracked Melinda's poor, frail body and she began to sob, curling up on a ball, as though to protect herself from falling apart. Melinda couldn't understand what had happened to her life. Her mother, Beth walked out on her and him, to run off with another man Paul, five years ago, when Melinda was 9. That was five years ago. She left without an explanation, which left Melinda to ask herself: Was it because of her. Tom told her it was, and she believes him. Why else would her mother have felt so unhappy? Melinda knew she should have been a better child, should have wanted her mum more. She was a daddy's girl, was that why her mum left? To have another baby, that would be a mummy's girl? Tom gladly told Melinda why her mother left. It was all her fault, and Melinda couldn't see why this was wrong.
*End of flashback*
"Morning hun." Jim said to Melinda. Melinda jumped out of her trance and gasped, startled.
"Woah, you okay? Didn't mean to frighten you." he said, kissing her cheek. She looked at her husband. Still in his boxers, his hair sticking up all over the place, Jim began to put bread in the toaster. His warm eyes, full of life turned to look at her.
"What?" he asked, his head cocking slightly to the left. She smiled to herself and shook her head.
"Your beautiful." Melinda stated, catching sight oh her husbands firm butt, beautiful body and handsome face. What stuck out the most was his eyes. These were the eyes Melinda could gaze into forever, and always feel loved, safe and happy.
"As are you." he smiled, showing his pearly white teeth. Melinda looked at her watch. Beside her watch, a pale scar ran down her arm.
Now and then I get insecure, from all the pain, feel so ashamed…
*Flashback*
Melinda looked up just in time to see the fist rushing towards her. She didn't have time to duck, and if she had time, she wouldn't have the guts to duck, or run, or do anything. The punch caught her full on the head, and she felt the ground rush up to meet her. She crumpled in a dizzy, painful heap on the worn carpet. Kicks and punched rained down upon her, and she cried in defeat and pain. Suddenly, Tom reached out and grabbed Melinda's stick thin arm, and in a flash of silver, dragged a knife down her arm. At first, nothing happened, then crimson blood began to pour from the huge cut. Melinda gasped. She was going to die and she knew it. Suddenly, black spots swan in front of Melinda's eyes, and she fell gratefully into blackness. Hours passed before Melinda's eyes flickered open. Pain thundered in her, and she dragged herself to her feet. She felt like she had been hit with a truck. Somehow, she managed to get to her room. Her floor length mirror was in view. She closed her eyes, as she stripped naked. She walked to the mirror and opened her eyes. Melinda burst into tears.
"I am disgusting." she whispered, hatred lacing her voice.
Her body was a mass of colours. Purple, blue, black, yellow, red, with numerous shades of the colours. She turned and looked at her back. She could see the huge gashes and open wounds on her back. Tom used his belt, he must have kept hitting her when she had fell unconscious. Blood was congealed everywhere, and she looked at her arm. The blood has stopped, and she knew it had only stopped because blood had congealed onto of the cut. Melinda's eyes were outlined with purple bruises, and one of her eyes had rapidly swelled, and she had a huge raised lump above it. She eye was half closed, and her vision blurred in the other. Her skeletal frame began to tremble. Her stomach growled fiercely but she knew Tom wouldn't feed her tonight, even though she hadn't eaten in a few days. Her hips jutted out in an unnatural way. He legs looked like matchsticks, and she could see every tendon and ligament in her arms and legs. She could count her ribs, and she could see the ribs which were broke, or fractured. She looked into her eyes. They were lifeless, and hollow, Like tunnels. Dark, eerie, and and frightening.
Melinda cringed away from the mirror, emotions running wild. One emotion that stood out the most, was that she was ashamed. Ashamed of herself, for not standing up to Tom. Ashamed that she wasn't loved. Ashamed at her body. Ashamed at her life. She put on her clothes as quickly as she could, without causing too much pain, and huddled under the quilt on her bed. She cried herself to sleep, wishing she would do everyone a favour, and die.
*End of flashback*
"Melinda, im away to work." Jim said, coming in. He was so handsome looking in his work clothes. Jim had been working as a doctor for five years now, and Melinda knew he loved it. Jim always spoke about working, and Melinda knew it meant a lot to him that he could save lives. she knew he was bringing happiness to others, and that was so rewarding to Jim.
"Okay, hun, I love you, see you soon." Melinda said, getting up and planting a tender kiss upon his mouth. He kissed her back, with equal amount of love, winding his hand in her hair. He pulled away, and looked into her eyes.
"I miss you already." He smiled, kissing her again. Melinda couldn't hide her smile, and she nuzzled her face into his neck.
"I miss you more." She mumbled, knowing exactly what she was getting herself into. As she knew he would, Jim pulled her face gently to look at her, and shook his head.
"Not a chance." He grinned, playing along.
"I do to," She pouted, knowing she would win. Jim rolled his eyes lovingly and kissed her again.
"Bye hun." he smiled, and left the house. She had been with Jim for years and years, but she still got butterflies, and all giggly and smiley when he kissed her. It was like she was still a teenager. Melinda got to her feet and began to think about her outfit for today. She was going to open her shop in an hour. Her shop. There was always that feeling of satisfaction when she thought about her shop. Growing up and always being told she would never do any good in life, owning a shop felt like such a huge achievement. To Melinda, it was a huge achievement. The shop 'Same as it never was' sold antiques, and it was fascinating learning all the stories about the items she sold, and it meant a lot to her, being able to bring people happiness, by doing her job. She picked out a pale yellow summer dress. It was low cut, and went to Melinda's knees, billowing out slightly. Melinda ran a brush through her long brown curls, brushed her teeth, put shoes on and was off.
At the shop, Delia arrived with coffee and chocolate brownies from the little stall. Melinda began to sort out pricing lists. She turned around and found herself looking into a jewel encrusted mirror. Melinda looked at her reflection, registering the emotions. Happy. Loved. Safe. Free.
Melinda smiled. "I am beautiful." She whispered.
I am beautiful, no matter what they say.
Words cant bring me down
I am beautiful, in every single way.
Yes, words cant bring me down
so don't you bring me down, today…
A/N What did everyone think? Reviews would be nice please :)
