41.

If it weren't for Manny, I don't think I would've eaten. I've ate so little since that day, I became thinner than I was before. Weaker. I must have looked terrible, but I couldn't bring myself to look in the mirror that hangs from my bathroom. I glanced over to the corner. Where the mirror my mother gave me still stood, covered in dust and hidden.

Why did she have to leave? Did she somehow knew the hell that would be awaiting for her if she had? I wanted to ask her to take me that day. But I already saw the answer in her eyes. That look of utter contempt, the rain only made her face appear darker.

Is it wrong of me to want to go back? Back when times were simpler. Back when I was just an ignorant child and I knew no hatred. I know I'm being childish. I can't have what was never there in the first place. I can't live in some fantasy where all the love I received was just pretend.

A knock on the door interrupted my dark thoughts.

"Come in..." I said weakly. I couldn't even bother to lift my head from the bed anymore. Moving takes too much energy from me now.

The sound of footsteps approach my bed and I glance up through my greasy hair to see my father standing over me. He stood there for quite some time. I couldn't see his expression. He quickly turned on his heels and went out the door. I heard him say in a loud voice.

"Get her well cleaned and give her something to eat," The sound of hist footsteps faded away, and I could no longer hear them.

Someone new entered the room, gently helping me up into a sitting position. They brushed away my greasy hair from my face, and I was shocked to see that it was Quinn. She gave me a small smile, I could only stare at her wide-eyed in return.

Just then, Manny came in and scooped me off the bed. He took me to the bathroom with Quinn following after him. She turned on the water, filling the tub up. As we waited, I contemplated on whether I should ask them what's going on when Manny suddenly set me at the edge of the tub, balancing me. Until Quinn got a hold of me.

He left, closing the bathroom door. Quinn gently tugged off my clothes, keeping a steady hold on me. She eased me inside the bathtub and let my skin soak in for a moment or two before scrubbing my arms. I didn't know what to say. I didn't even know what to think anymore. So I sat there and let her wash me.