Escape

Time and Space

Amar's POV

I gradually opened my eyes as the clarity from outside slithered into my room and blinded me a little. I gazed around my room, eyes narrow, taking in my surroundings. I rubbed at my eyes, trying to wake up and get used to the brightness in my room. It was extremely early for the sun to be out. I grabbed my phone, seeing that I had woken up four minutes before my alarm was reckoned to go off. Ugh, I hated it when that happened. I needed those four extra minutes.

I groaned and set my phone back on my bed. I rubbed my eyes a little a harder. The events from yesterday overwhelmed my brain. I recall getting a beating and busting out of those old, rusty chains. I remembered shouting at the boys, and if I was rude to them then so be it. I took a beating after they made me a promise that they wouldn't allow anyone to harm me. Our friendship was a disaster solely waiting to occur. We were from different universes. They are good-looking, fit, smart, witty, generous, friendly and compassionate. I was nowhere near attractive, a couch potato, a nerd, irritating, solemn, and incompetent. Though, if people knew I was kind and compassionate, they wouldn't care. They concentrate on everything that's wrong about me and disregard everything that's good, which isn't much, either.

One event from yesterday that did intrigue me, Tyler, the obscure boy who was kind and gave me a ride home. I was genuinely surprised when he insisted on giving me a ride and wanting to help me. Everyone in my life has continually treated me poorly, so it's no shock I was rude to him. Nevertheless, he was kind. There was something about Tyler that made me want to keep talking to him and find out more about him. It terrified me.

I had this concept that people were horrible and if you let guard down, they will let you down. The mere thought that he could be different scared me.

I switched my alarm off as soon as it began chiming. I groaned and got up, excruciating pain coursing throughout my body. Gasping at the sudden feeling, I wrapped an arm around myself. I wailed and laid back down, and the pain subsided. With the kicks Noah and Richie gave me, and the beating from yesterday, I had a long way to get better. I couldn't miss a day from school. I could miss classwork, homework, tests, projects, new lessons. No, I couldn't miss school. Setting my pain aside, I got up, groaning and hissing in pain. I kept an arm around my torso as I trudged to the bathroom.

My brother had left back to Uni. My parents were presumably at the hotel, posing to be regular, polite people towards the guests. I had the entire house to myself. I staggered to the bathroom and switched the light on, shutting my eyes at the sudden light. I opened my eyes slowly. I squinted at my image and raised my shirt. A sharp gasp leaves my lips. My old bruises from Noah and Richie and the bruises I received from the beating were all mushed together. My entire torso was cloaked in a nasty shade of green with tinges of purple. The only space I didn't have a bruise was on my upper chest. I let down my shirt and laid a hand on my head, noticing my pounding headache. I opened the first drawer and got out the bottle of aspirins. I popped three in my mouth and swallowed it dry, being under too much pain to bend down and take a gulp of water from the sink.

I gently took my shirt off and let it fall to the floor. I avoided glancing at my appearance again as I slid out of my shorts. I turned the water on and let it get hot. The bathroom got overflowed with steam. As I got in, I winced but soon relaxed. I ran a hand through my wet curls and shut my eyes. I wanted to stay in there forever, allowing the hot water to pour down my body and all my problems to disappear. Showering is the only time I can escape. Everyone and everything dissolves, and it's only me and the water. As I cleaned my hair, I began humming the tune of 'Say You Won't Let Go' by James Arthur.

I had forgotten a towel, so I clutched the clothes I was wearing and concealed my body with them. I knew nobody was home, but it was still weird to be naked. I rushed to my room and grabbed a towel. After I was dry, I hastily blow dried my hair, making it cascade down my back. I didn't fancy wearing a beanie today. It would add pressure to my head, and that won't help my headache. I changed into a grey top that was a bit too long for me, so I did a knot in the front. I squeezed into some black skinnies that had some holes at the knees. I shrugged on a leather jacket I hadn't worn in a while. I slipped on some black vans and walked over to my mirror. I stared at my reflection.