12
Normal POV
It was one maybe two in the morning. Michael was sitting at his small desk, in his room running a small paint brush over the mask dipped in brown paint. The wall to his right was already covered with masks. In the corner of the wall were a bunch of masks that were painted white with numerous different colored flowers and diamonds and stars. They were for her. When she comes to visit, he'll give them all to her and she will forgive him.
Michael believed she would come back soon. She had to. The two were connected, he felt it immediately inside her. It was such a warm and soft feeling her insides. They didn't remind him of animal guts he would feel when he pulled them out of animals. She fit around him perfectly and the only thing missing from her was a mask. He should have brought her one the last time she came to visit. Then maybe she wouldn't have been so sad when he connected with her. But they were bound together, it was official. Nothing could keep them a part not even time. He raised the brown mask up and examined it. It was a simple mask with a long line running from the chin to the eye.
She'll come back.
Kyra's POV
We merely strolled through campus walking beneath the street lights.
"So what happened to you?" he asked. I looked up at him to see him motioning his head at me. I placed my hand over my car and looked away.
"Dad cut me while he was drunk when I was a little girl." I replied flatly and looked forward. He nodded keeping his hands tucked in his pockets. He looked head.
"Scum bag." he muttered, and I shook my head.
"Made my life hell growing up." I replied with a fake laugh. He nodded.
"Well you've gotten yourself this far." he replied, and I nodded, noticing he began to stop beneath one of the lights. I paused and looked at him and noticed he was unbuttoning his denim shirt and I tensed wondering what he was doing. I could see his chest and now his stomach and I was mildly stunned at what I saw. Three long smooth scars lied against his chest. I stepped closer to get a better look.
"Had a run in with a brown bear while hunting with my dad five years ago. Died twice on the operating table and have never been so lucky to be alive." he said, and I stared at his body for a moment. My scar seemed so small compared to his, but then again, a scar is a scar. My fingers flexed with the urge to touch them, but I refrained.
"How bad did it hurt?" I asked softly, and he blew out some air.
"Bad." he replied now closing his shirt. I watched as his scars began to cover up like curtains closing a stage.
"I wish this scar was anywhere else on my body." I replied as we continued to walk.
"I think your scar is perfect where it is." he replied, and I whipped my head at him, my eyes laced in confusion.
"Shouldn't we both wish we didn't have scars?" I asked with a bit of attitude in my tone. He chuckled.
"Yes. But we can't control some of the things that happen in our lives. You couldn't stop your father any more than I could stop that bear." he said with a shrug, his eyes now staring at me with a calm yet deep expression "I think it makes us warriors, because we've survived such horrific things." I thought about his words for a moment looking ahead.
"It makes us survivors." I said with realization. Jack smiles and nods.
"Survivors." he agreed, and I smiled as I found myself walking a little closer to him beneath the street lights.
1 week later
I didn't know where this new-found confidence came from, but I liked it. I stared at my toes as they were beneath the muddy water. Other students were standing around me in their casual clothes laughing and stomping in the water. I was in an old gypsy skirt and tank. My hair was pulled back into two pig tails and I had a flower tiara around my head. I even had some friendship bracelets on Lynda had made.
"Oh my god this is so exciting!" Lynda replied as she was in shorts and a big white tank top.
"So when does the fun begin?" I asked.
"When the music starts." Annie called out finding us in the crowd. And just a few seconds after she spoke, the music started.
"BANG BANG! WE'RE FAR ENOUGH FROM HEAVEN NOW WE CAN FREAK OUT!" Now we all started moving, flinging our hands in the air and feeling the mud splash our legs and thighs. I had never felt so alive. The music engulfed me and I was spinning around, laughing and smiling. It does feel good to get dirty sometime. I feel a hand on my back, and I immediately turn to see Jack. I hadn't seen him but twice these past two weeks.
"Hey!" I called out hugging him. He was in blue jeans only. His skin was warm against mine.
"You look good." he said. "Seemed to really crawl out of your skin." I shrugged.
"I have my friends to thank for that." I said turning to see Annie and Lyndsey dancing with some other people. I faced Jack who smiled.
"So we're friends now?" he asked. I shrugged with a light smile.
"If you're still up for it." I replied. He grinned.
"I think I can handle you." he said. Now I feel Annie's arms wrap around both our necks.
"Okay, okay less talky more dancing, the paper is taking pics of us!" she said with pure enjoyment. I began to sway my hips with the beat of the music. Jack had some moves twisting his hips and jumping in the mud. A lot of people began to follow his lead and I did as well.
"Who can cook, who can clean who can paint the fence!"
"I WILL, I WILL, I WILL, I WILL, I WILL, I WILL, I WILL, I WILL!" we all shouted and danced with the chorus while still jumping around making a big muddy mess. I could tell we were starting to get crowded and Jack held his hand out to me and without thinking, I took it. I didn't want any of my friends to get separated from me. Our fingers gently curled into each other, and we continued to splash around in the muddy water. I couldn't remember the last time I smiled so much or was even this happy.
September 3
The drive was different today. I guess it was because of where I was going. My stomach was filled with knots, and I felt that I wouldn't be able to do this.
I was staring at the white mask in my hand. I never felt so numb before.
"If you want I can go with you." Jack replied, and I shook my head.
"It wouldn't be a good idea. But thank you." I had to get rid of them if I was truly going to move on.
I had to overcome this on my own. I arrived at the hospital and grabbed the box of masks I had with me. No one knew I was coming which I thought was a good thing. I got out and walked over to the front doors and signed in. After the box and the masks were examined, I just sat in the waiting room and waited. I couldn't deny that I was nervous, and I just felt like I was about to see an execution.
"Kyra?" I heard Dr. Loomis and I looked up to see he looked surprised. I stood up slowly and looked at him.
"I've decided to say good bye and give him these." I replied holding up the opened box so he could see them. He inhaled some as he looked them over before nodding. I followed him down the hall.
"I'm glad you came." he said.
"I'm not." I replied, but deep down, I was lying. A part of me was happy to see my old friend, but the other me, the abused woman was angry. "Have you told him that he was being transferred?" He shook his head.
"No. Since you surprised us today, he won't even know this is your last day." He said finally coming upon a different room. I could see the window inside. It was a perfect square and inside was Michael standing there staring at the wall. Two men in security outfits were standing on either side of the door and I just stared at him. He was in a white t-shirt and sweat pants. He had on slippers that looked old. His hands were also chained as well as his feet. His hair of course was greasy and dark and covering his face. I just stood there staring at him, my screams from my past ringing in my ears. Each thrust that killed everything that was playing over and over and over again.
"Kyra. Let me bring him the box. You don't have to go in." he said.
"But I want to. I have to." I replied. "I won't mention his transfer or this being our final goodbye." The doctor looked me over with mild worry before nodding and then looking at the two men. One of them pulled out some keys and unlocked the door. I stepped inside looking at Michael's back. My heart was beating even faster now and it felt like it was moving into my throat as I drew closer. But I stopped leaving enough room between us.
"Hello Michael." I replied, my voice echoing some in the room. I got no response and for once, I wasn't concerned with his lack of speech. I just stared at his back as he just stood there. He never moved his head in acknowledgement of my voice. Like he cared anyways. I sat the box down keeping my eyes on him as I did so. "I hope you are well. And I have brought these for you to remember me by." I stood back up and stared at him for a moment. Maybe he was calm or maybe his mind was completely dead and he was just a mindless body. I only turned and walked from the room. I stepped out and just turned the hall not even bothering to speak to Dr. Loomis as I left.