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Anali was ready to tell her roommate, Angelina, about her family and everything they did to her as she was growing up. Abusing, borderline torturing her, from the moment she came out of the womb. It was a horrific life to live… and she was finally ready to share that with someone.
She was only thirteen and had already been through so much. It’s what made her so hard and rough when it came to other people. She was protecting herself.
So, one night, right before bed, she spoke up softly. “Lina, can I talk to you about something? It’s important.”
The older girl whipped around, slightly surprised by her words. She had a feeling that this conversation wasn’t going to be like the others, were jokes and witty comebacks were thrown around. “Sure, is something bothering you?” they responded, turning her body to face the small girl.
“It’s just… I want to tell someone here this, but it’s not about something good,” Anali stammered. “It’s pretty bad…”
Lina smiled reassuringly, “Of course you can, I’m not going anywhere.”
“I guess it’s best to just rip off the bandage. My family was really abusive; one of the people I ran into at another camp said it bordered on torture. I just— I dunno. I wanted to talk about it,” Anali looked down, fiddling with her pink bracelet. “Maybe it wasn’t that bad, but…” she said before groaning. “It’s hard, sorry.
“Borderline torture…?” her eyes widened, slightly taken aback, as she slowly lowered the plush in her hands. Of all the things she was expecting to hear, this definitely wasn’t on the list. “Anali, are you okay?” Angelina asked, concerned. She stood up and moved to sit next to the girl, thinking it was probably best not to show how worried it made her.
“I mean, I guess. I’m away from my parents now, so it doesn’t really matter,” Anali shrugged. “I know it was abuse, but I don’t know about the label of torture,” she sighed.
Lina looked at her and then up at the ceiling, trying to think. “Well, torture is quite a…” She paused and looked back at her. “Rather strong word.” They sat there for a moment in silence before Angelina continued after a while, “You wanna expand on it? There’s no pressure, but I’m listening.”
“Uhh… I don’t even know where to begin. My baba beat me on a daily basis, my mata would berate me over every little thing, and like… did weird things. In the wintertime, my mata would sometimes lock me outside when it was snowing all night long… I dunno; it was just bad stuff. Baba beat Aasim with a fire poker because of his pyromania, and it… I was forced to watch it,” Anali said, tears welling up in her eyes as she tried to fight them.
Angelina slowly reached her arm out and pulled her in slightly, “It’s okay,” she murmured. “It’s okay, you’re safe here,” she repeated, trying to hold back her own tears to comfort the girl. “I’m still listening..”
“I just… I wanted to tell someone, ya know? They always told me I was their perfect little girl yet they hurt me. My mata said she loved me but she never treated me well. I don’t understand it…” Anali looked at Angelina with her teary eyes. “I just… it’s unfair.”
“Listen here,” Lina pulled up her sleeve to her face and gently wiped her tears away. It is unfair, and… I can’t say anything to undo the past, but you did nothing wrong.” She took a deep breath, looking to the side. “Sometimes people do stupid things, and… well... None of it was your fault, and it never will be.”
“Aasim used to protect me from it, keep the worst of it away from me… but then he burned that damn shed down and got sent to the school…” Anali said, a teeny bit of anger seeping through her voice.
Lina waited for Anali to somewhat regain her composure before beginning to respond, “Well.. you’re here now aren’t you, and I’m gonna make sure nothing like that ever happens you hear?” She held up her pinky finger, “I promise.”
Anali held up her hand as well, interlocking their pinkies. “Thank you…”
“Of course, kiddo. Anytime.” Angelina said softly.
With that, they made their promise and hugged each other tightly. Anali knew no matter what, she had Angelina by her side and they’d help her no matter what. Things would be okay.