CHAPTER TWO
The taste of blood stopped my cheek-biting habit, a stress-induced routine I never endorsed but often submitted to. Flora had left to fetch some clothes for me. Surprisingly, I had my bag when the car collided with me, but she claimed it was lost. Maybe it was for the best; there wasn't anything valuable inside anyway. All I truly needed were my ID and some money. Not much, but it was mine. Now, I have nothing. Taking a deep breath, I turned towards the open window, allowing the pleasant summer breeze to fill the room. Hoping that this summer, one of my favorite seasons, would bring relief, I closed my eyes and wished for some much-needed sleep.
"Oh, she's sleeping. Maybe we should come later," a voice interrupted my thoughts. I opened my eyes and shifted my gaze towards the speaker. An Asian beauty stood there, looking as if caught red-handed. Her cheeks flushed instantly, and if Flora hadn't nudged her inside, I wondered how long it would take for her to enter.
"Get in, you coward," Flora scolded, and a moment later, the girl came in with a bag in her hand, smiling. I returned the smile; it was strange how secure this girl made me feel. "Bloom is coming too; she wanted to get you something good to apologize." I furrowed my brows. "To apologize?" Flora nodded. "Yeah, she was scared that something might happen to you, just like Musa here."
Flora pushed Musa to a chair placed next to my bed. "Hey," Musa greeted softly. I couldn't suppress my smile before responding. These girls possessed an extraordinary ability to make people feel comforted and protected. "Hi," I replied with a hoarse voice. Dehydration was evident, but there was more. Helia mentioned I had slept for two whole days. I had missed that part, as he also revealed knowledge of my violent past. Despite the extended rest, I felt unnervingly tired and weak. I tried to push the thoughts away, but my mind played visual games. If my brothers walked in, I wouldn't have the strength to do anything. I couldn't even run!
"How are you feeling?" Flora's voice brought me back, and I shifted my attention to her. "I'm not really sure," I hesitated, contemplating whether to reveal the truth. Seeing her worried expression, I decided honesty was the best policy. "Not good, actually. I feel so tired and kind of dizzy." Flora smiled, retrieved a stethoscope and a blood pressure monitor, and after examining me, she smiled again. "There's nothing wrong, dear, don't worry. It's just fatigue caused by the medications and hormonal fatigue from sleep."
She sat beside her friend, who was also concerned. "I'm so sorry, Stella." I raised my eyebrows; she knew my name? Probably Flora told her; I just wasn't accustomed to people calling me by my name. "It's okay, it was my fault anyway," I managed to say. "No! It was my fault! I should've been more careful. I always speed when I drive; it's not a habit I'm proud of." I opened my mouth to respond, but the door swung open, revealing a red-haired girl, equally beautiful, carrying four milkshakes unsteadily. "I could really use two more hands," she chuckled, and Flora rushed to assist. "Oh, you're up! Hi, I'm Bloom. I was in the car that hit you." Despite the warning stares from the other girls, she smiled and I giggled. Maybe all I needed was a little humor.
Another day had passed, and my condition had improved. At least now I knew I could run if the need arose. The girls refrained from examining too deeply into my escape or my nocturnal running habits. They had some knowledge, as I had informed them on the night of the incident that I was running away from my brothers, and involving the police was not an option. I expressed my concern to Flora about not having money to cover the hospital expenses or the clothes she had provided.
"No one asked you for money; now, shush and eat your porridge. You're too skinny," she scolded me. In reality, I wasn't that skinny. I had gained weight after one of my brothers, who always took away my food, moved away. My weight now balanced with my height, perhaps a little lower, but at least I wasn't anorexic skinny again. Flora's clothes were a bit loose, but they suited enough. Today marked my last day, and I had no idea what awaited me in life.
"Hey, can I come in?" I turned around to find Flora and smiled, "Sure."
"Are you ready? How do you feel?" This time, my smile didn't quite reach my eyes, but I held onto it nonetheless. "Good, I feel good. And I'm ready too." Flora's expression shifted, and she took my hand, leading me to a small couch in the room. "Stella, now we are friends. You know that, right?" I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. "I know," I whispered.
"You can tell me if there's something you need." She whispered back, making me feel better. Clearing my throat, I decided pride had no place here. Flora had helped me immensely, and trusting her seemed like the right choice. "I—" What was I going to tell her? About my psychopath brothers? About my stepmother who encouraged them to hurt me more? With a shaky breath, tears welled up in my eyes. It was challenging to think about, let alone articulate.
"Stella," Flora whispered before enveloping me in a hug. "I know what those wounds, burn marks, and bruises mean. I'm not that naive. You don't need to explain anything to me. Just tell me what you need; I want to help you." I hugged her back, suppressing the urge to scream. I let my tears fall and my sobs flow freely. My body shook as this girl, who knew nothing about me, was eager to help, while my own brothers could only muster hatred. I lost track of time, and Flora didn't mention anything. She allowed me to cry until my sobs subsided and my tears stopped flowing. Pulling back, I took a deep breath, and her eyes were red from crying too. Another sob threatened to escape, but I swallowed it. She cried for me?
The door opened, and Helia entered, his head low on papers. He scanned the room, finding the bed empty, furrowing his brows. A quick review of the room revealed us flushed and with puffed eyes. "Wow. What's going on in here?" He quickly approached Flora, kneeling in front of her, grabbing her hands and cupping her cheek. "Why are you crying?" He looked at me, worry etched on his face. "Stella, what's wrong?" I lowered my head; this was too much for me, and I just wanted to remain silent.
Flora squeezed Helia's hand, signaling him. "Nothing, we were just sad that we would be apart. We got very used to each other." Helia tilted his head, looking at Flora, who assured him with a smile. He got up, gesturing for her to do the same. "Is there anything?" Helia blinked, momentarily confused by Flora's question. When she pointed to the papers, he cleared his throat and nodded. "No, just some signatures I need from Stella. I'll leave these here, and you can sign them whenever you want." He smiled at me and left the room. Flora grabbed her pen and, without saying anything, signed the papers Helia had brought.
"It's better if you don't have any kind of trace behind," she advised. Looking at the papers, I noticed the name written wasn't mine but Bloom's. I blinked to ensure I saw correctly. "Don't ask," Flora said. I hadn't planned on asking anything; I just wanted to cry again from happiness. This girl had already done so much, and she was still willing to do more!
"Now, listen to me." Gently grabbing my arms, she made me sit on the couch. Kneeling in front of me, just as Helia had done to her before, she held my hands and looked at me. "Where do you plan to go? Is there anyone who can protect you? Or any place you know you'll be safe?" My surprise had vanished, replaced by worry. "No," I replied, unable to suppress my frustration with my pitiful voice. Flora's brows furrowed as she pondered.
"Okay, I'm going to find you a safe place. Just let me think." My heart raced; Flora's eyes sparkled as she looked at me and smiled. Just as I was about to question her, she stood up and reached for her phone to make a call. I bit my cheek, not caring about the taste of blood this time. "He's not answering, but I'm sure it won't be a problem for him. He doesn't live there anymore." After she finished talking and stopped walking in the room, I decided to ask her, "Who?" Flora looked at me, her smile evident. She grabbed my shoulders and hugged me tightly. "That doesn't matter."