Bruises- Short (long) Story

Click, click, clack, click, clack.

I typed away on my keyboard, fingers flying over the keys as I kept a steady pace typing up my report I had to turn in soon. Sitting in my little white cubicle all day was making me stiff, but I knew I had to finish first.

I took a glance down at my notes on my desk before meeting the screen again, my eyes did a double take. Fingers freezing mid-type as I stared wide eyed at my left wrist. A soft faded bruise made itself slowly visible, snaking all the way around like a bracelet as well as a dull pain. I gasped, taking my arm in my hand and gently stroking the skin that was bruised. But it wasn't my bruise.

No. It couldn't have been. I had only just noticed the faded yet dark mar on my light skin.

It had to have been from him. From the one, my significant other.

People always get these things. A random mark here, a simple little cut there. Nothing done by them, but a small little sign that your soul mate that was somewhere out there. It happened to everyone, but for me I always seemed to be getting far more than what was normally expected. I’d get giant bruises painting my ribs, others on my arms and face, or occasionally the rare occurrence of a light bruise on my neck or a black eye.

Either my soul mate was one hell of a klutz, or he continued to get himself hurt, and I was just hoping that I was wrong about the second thought. I didn’t want to think about what type of trouble he could be getting himself into with all the cuts and bruises that seemed to constantly be forming on my skin. Little, pale blossoms of blood forming and spreading across my skin, leaving me concerned for whatever my significant other did.

I shoved myself away from my desk, causing my chair to roll backwards before I stood abruptly. I blindly began walking, walking away from my desk, as if all my concerns could be left there on that table. In my haste I knocked into my boss, Lizzie, as she was making her way down the hall. Her easy going smile soon disappeared as she saw the concern on my face, pulling me by my arm gently towards the break room.

“Nina! Are you okay hun? What’s going on?” She asks, her hazel eyes questioning and worried.

“It’s happening again Liz!” I whispered, leaning back into the wall that was behind me as I gripped my arm, showing her the faded mark.

Her face drops, “Oh Nina, I’m sorry- Oh my!” I frantically meet her eyes again as she searches my face.

“What!?” I gasp, holding my arm tighter as anxiety tightens its hold on my chest.

“You have another one forming! Right under your eye!” I can feel her gentle touch on the side of my face, her cool fingers just barely pressed against my cheekbone making me flinch slightly, but I don’t look at her. I can’t. My soul mate was out there right now in the world, getting hurt, and I was powerless, only able to share the bruises with him.

“Liz… What do I do?” Tears begin to roll down my cheeks, burning my eyes and blurring my vision as I finally turn my head to look into those comforting hazel eyes.”He’s getting hurt out there- I can’t do anything to help… I-I just feel so weak.” I sob.

Lizzie pulls me into her chest and I silently sob against her, not caring about the fact that we were in a professional environment and she was my boss, or even the fact that anyone could walk into the small break room and see me bawling my eyes out to my boss.

“Shh… It’s okay. Don’t feel weak hun. You’ll find him real soon, you’ll help him get through whatever it is he’s struggling with, and you’ll do it together. That is the point of this after all, he’s your soulmate. You can work through it together.” I nod, the only thing I can do as I am just becoming able to quiet my sobs. “Now, I’ll tell you, I want you to just go home right now. Go home and just relax, okay? Don’t worry about this or that report you were finishing up, you get some rest and come in and finish it tomorrow, alright?” I pull away gently, nodding some more and muttering a thank you best I could.

Liz knew I had been having it pretty rough these past few months with all the extra bruises. I had been coming in some days looking like I went a round with Rocky. I was hoping it would blow over, but it seemed to be only getting worse, and it was on a very irregular basis. Sometimes it would be just a few, like today, but others…. It would be so bad I didn’t want to show my face to anyone. I couldn’t go anywhere, but I knew I had to.

And so, like those days, I ran home. All the thoughts of how bad my other half is getting it running through my mind as I hid my face. Strangers on the street a blur as I pushed my way past anyone and everyone. Eventually reaching my apartment that was only a few blocks away from my job. I throw my door open and slam it back closed once again as soon as I was within the house. My shoes were immediately lost, as well as my rush now that I was within the comforts of my own home.

I feel slightly more restless once actually home, unsure what to do now that I didn’t have the judging eyes of others to examine all of my bruises. I was all by myself.

With a sigh I decide to do a full body check. I wanted to see if there were others beneath my clothes that I couldn’t see by myself. I stalk to my room, throwing off the blazer I wore onto my unmade bed. My pencil skirt followed in a haste and I was left in my white blouse. Turning, I face the full length mirror on the wall to my right, taking a deep breath before slowly unbuttoning it. The fabric falls to the floor and I’m left in my undergarments.

A shallow gasp escapes past my lips as I see the giant blemish across my ribs. It was the span of my ribcage, going in a diagonal direction towards my chest. I steeple my hands over my mouth and nose as I begin to feel the tears welling up in my eyes once again.

“Oh my God…” My lip begins to quiver as I fall to my knees in front of the mirror.

I wasn’t sure what to do now. All these bruises, all this marks that seemed to be constantly appearing all over my skin were from him. I was forced to see all the damage that was being done, but he was being forced to suffer through it all. He was out there somewhere and suffering through what I can only imagine as strong pains based off of these huge dark bruises all over my body.

The phone begins to ring and I flinch, turning to look at the flashing light that coordinated with the high pitched ring. I sigh, taking a second to regain my composure, if only slightly, and wiping my eyes before I finally stand. Without a care for my lack of clothes, I sit on the edge of my bed and pick up the phone.

“Hello?” I cringe at the sound of my gruff voice to my own ears.

“Nina? Hey, it’s me. What’s wrong? Where are you?” Dang it, I forgot. I was supposed to meet Carmen for lunch. We always have our lunch breaks together. We are best friends and practically inseparable, hanging out when we could which meant lunch breaks.

“Oh, sorry Carm. I had to go home.”

“What? Why? Are you okay?”

“Um… Yeah, not really.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, sniffling as I bring my legs up onto the bed. “It keeps happening. All the bruises, they’re everywhere and they’re so dark and huge! He keeps getting so badly hurt that I don’t know what to do!” I feel like crying again, tears pricking the backs of my eyes as I try to contain myself.

“I’ll be right over.” Was all I heard before the line clicked. Reasons to love Carmen, she’ll drop what she’s doing in a heartbeat to come and help you; also the fact that she hates her job and would rather be doing anything other helps the situation as well.

I take a deep breath to steady myself, running my hands through my long black hair that ran almost to the middle of my back. Some unknown force finally gave me enough energy and willpower to get up and at least throw on some clothes before Carmen made it over.

Just as I was getting my last article of clothing on the sound of my front door opening could be heard. “Using my key! Better be decent, I’m coming back!” She called, my bedroom door swinging open, her gentle smile peeking in. “Okay, I take that back. Make yourself less decent, I want to see them.” She refers to the marks with a tilt of her head as she plops down onto my bed.

I roll my eyes but do as I’m told, taking off the oversized tee shirt I just got done putting on, my back to her. It was the only thing I got to putting on, my legs already bare. When I turn to look at her again her jaw seems to drop, if only slightly.

“I forgot how bad it was…” She mumbles, eyes scanning across my body. A moment passes before she finally meets my eyes again, a gentle blush creeping on her face for staring too long.

“Yeah. It seems to be really bad some days, others seem like good days. Today is kinda bad, hopefully it won’t go any farther downhill from here.” I mutter, feeling exhausted as I pull the shirt back over my head, feeling my hair going messy but I could care less.

Silence passes between us for what feels like an eternity as I sit next to her on the bed before Carmen decided it was time to poke a hole in the depressing atmosphere. “You know, what if you went out and found him?”

I fall back, letting my head rest in her lap as she sits cross legged, combing her fingers through my hair. “Yeah, but how would I even do that?”

“Well, you could go out and look for someone with your same bruises, but that’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Maybe you- Oh my gosh!” She gasps, slamming her hand down on my knee and making me jump. “Okay! This is going to sound insane, but you know how you unintentionally get the bruises and cuts from him? What if you intentionally did a cut? He could see it, right?”

“Yeah..? I guess, why?”

“Well, what if you like, cut something onto yourself? Like wrote a ‘meet me here’ type thing?!”

I furrowed my brows. “That’s actually an interesting thought…” I ponder it for a moment before my wide eyes meet Carmen’s. Without saying anything I throw myself off the bed and scurry for the kitchen. Carmen squeals and stumbles after me making it in the kitchen just as I grab a knife and get to the opposite side of the island counter.

“Nina, I was just blurting out ideas! I wasn’t actually serious! Don’t hurt yourself!”

“Too late, I’m doing it, it’s a great idea Carm!” I yell, taking the knife and placing the tip of it against my forearm, closest to my elbow. I bite my lip, an uneasy feeling washing over me before I begin gliding the blade across my skin. I wince at the feeling but push it aside, determined to finish what I started.

Forceful hands tighten around the hand that holds the knife, causing me to drop it. I had only cut an ‘M’ for ‘Meet’ in my arm before Carmen had thrown herself into me.

“Better idea Nina! Better idea! How about we think this through rationally?”

“What better idea?”

“Okay, remember how our parents always tell children that when their soulmate is closer to them, the more vivid the pains are that come with the bruises and cuts? That’s your answer there.” I give her a confused look as I pull away from her. Carmen rolls her eyes before pushing me away from the kitchen. “How strong have the pains been that come with your bruises?”

I shrug, “Fairly strong at some times, others it’s just a dull feeling…”

“Then that means that he’s probably really close then! Most people I know never feel theirs, others that feel theirs means their soul mates are probably within the city! Dude, this is great news! You can find him.” At this point Carmen was jumping and holding my arms. I had never told her about the pains because I had long forgotten about what my parents told me about the marks. I always thought it was something normal.

My head nods a few times, my mind too focused on thoughts of my other half. Where they could be, and that they were so close to me and I had not even known it or considered that. I could have passed by my soul mate, the one I was meant to be with, and not even known it was him.

“Alright… I’ll do that. I’ll go walk around town later tonight and try to look I guess.” Feeling defeated as I lower my head.

Carmen places a hand on my shoulder, I was expecting something close to a ‘don’t worry’, but instead got “Do you have a bag?”

I meet her gaze with a raised eyebrow. “Come again?”

“A bag, like a reusable one? I need one.” When I don’t respond immediately she rolls her eyes “Now.”

I one up her sigh and point to the cabinet under the sink. She smiles and throws a ‘thanks’ over her shoulder while she grabs it. After that she throws open every drawer and cabinet to my kitchen, throwing all knives into the bag, a smile plastering her features the entire time. Carmen slings the bag over her shoulder and meets my bewildered look. “Oh, just incase you get any more ideas about the whole ‘intentional cutting’. I got to get back to work though, after I drop these off at my apartment. So I’ll see ya’ later, okay hun? Bye!” She waves over her shoulder.

And with that last gesture, she leaves. Along with all my cutlery.

A few hours later, after I’ve built up enough energy to finally get up out of bed again and try to go out to look for my other half. I know it seems nearly impossible, that’s what I kept telling myself, but I know deep down inside me I just had to look. I wouldn’t be able to rest knowing they lived within city limits of me and I had yet to find them. So I got dressed in a pair of dark jeans, a simple black tee shirt and a threw on a pair of Chuck Taylors to leave, not before grabbing my favourite grey utility jacket.

As I walked the dark city streets I felt quite small and helpless. I knew the odds were clearly not in my favour, but that couldn’t stop me from looking. Even if I had to look every free minute I had, I knew I was going to find him. I had to.

I pulled my hood up over me as a slow drizzle had begun to descend from the black abyss above. There were hardly any people out at this time, and even less with the new weather that washed over our city. After an hour of walking aimlessly about the street I felt disheartened but determined to search at least an hour more before I began the slow trek back to my house. At the moment there was no one else on the particular street I was walking, so I ducked my head, wandering on when I felt a very sudden and sharp pain bite at the back of my head. It shot down and it made me slightly dizzy, urging me to fall to my knees, but I refused. Allowing a moment for the unknown pain to pass, I continued on, but more urgently.

That was the strongest the pain had ever been, it felt so vivid that it had felt like it was happened to me. I was still feeling the dull aftersensation when my feet froze on the sidewalk. To my left there began an alley and two people stood there, one held against the brick wall while the other spoke. Both were but dark figures dressed in monotone colours with their hoods up. As if I was a puppet with some higher up power moved my legs, carrying me forward towards the two. Closer now, I could hear the instigator speaking to the one against the wall, holding his neck and with the other hand had the victim's arm pinned to their side.

“-told you not to talk to him, didn’t I?” The bully said threateningly, his deep voice reaching my ears clearly. The other figure nodded his head, not speaking a word. “I’ll show you what you get when you don’t listen…” Continued on the man, pulling his fist back slowly, ready to let it fly at the one he had pinned.

“Hey!” I barked out as loud as I could, walking a bit closer to them, as close as I dared.

The instigator of the situation drop his arm quickly, turning to look at me. “Can I help you?”

“Yeah. You can let him go and leave or I’m calling the cops.” I yelled, pulling out my cell and dialing the emergency numbers but letting my finger linger over the call button. He hesitated for the longest time. After all, he was a burly man, he could have easily continued on doing what he wanted and hurt me as well and been gone before the police showed up. To my relief, he dropped his hold on the other man and took a few slow unwilling steps back before walking away. I had waited till he had stopped looking over his shoulder and was far down the street before making my way over to the man that was left.

“Are you okay?”

I couldn’t see the other person’s face for their head was down, hoodie pulled so all I could do was stare at the fabric of their jacket. I got a quick nod but no vocal response back. I waited patiently, and that patience paid off, for the man lifted his head.

Or well, should I say woman. The victim finally lifted their head and I was met with the most beautiful mercury grey eyes I had ever seen. I was so mesmerized by just the colour of those eyes that I didn’t move my eyes to see what she really looked like until she spoke.

“I’m fine now, thanks.” She mumbled, holding my gaze.

I realized that there was more to her then just those steely eyes. She had sharp facial features; high cheekbones, a defined jaw that went well with her heart shaped face, a beauty mark to the right of her small nose and just above her thin lips with the wide flare cupid's bow. She was also slightly petite but with her over sized hoodie I hadn’t been able to tell that well from a distance.

“Yeah, no problem…” I breathe out.

She bit the corner of her bottom lip and shifted her weight, “Um. As a thank you, would you want a hot drink or something? My loft is a block over.”

I nodded, “That would be appreciated, thanks.” I smile, gesturing for her to show the way. She begins walking and I follow next to her, easily keeping her pace. “So what’s your name by the way?”

“It’s Haven. You?”

“Nina”

We pretty much remained silent the rest of the walk which wasn’t really that long, she was correct in saying that her place was only a street away. She unlocked the door and when she opened it, I couldn’t help but noticed she did a quick weary scan before fully opening it and walking in. She shut the door behind me and told me to make myself comfortable.

I nodded and took a seat at a high stool at the island counter in her kitchen. My eyes followed Haven as she took off her jacket and put it on the coat rack by the door, my eyes going immediately go to her hair. When her hood came off it revealed the brightest bubblegum pink hair I had ever seen. She had her entire head dyed the color, although it wasn’t that much hair in the first place. Haven had a very stylish asymmetrical bob that was short all around except for where it hung down and covered the right side of her face and stopped a bit past her chin. I adverted my staring when she turned and made her way over to join me in the kitchen.

“What’ll you take?” She asked hands on the counter as she stood across from me.

“Coffee?” I asked hesitantly but she nodded, turning to put the cup in the instant coffee brewer and placing a mug under it. “So… That man, did you know him?” I couldn't help but ask now that I didn't have her eyes on me. In a second the dark liquid came rushing out and filled the cup.

“He was my, um, boyfriend.” Haven set the mug in front of me and I took it, glad to give my hands something to do. I couldn't believe that. Why she would ever stay with someone so abusive I couldn't understand.

My lips met the rim of the mug as I held the warm drink there, just feeling the heat seep into my chilled fingers. I nearly dropped the mug when I looked up at Haven and I could really see her face better in the lights above her, particularly the dark bruise under her eye; a matching bruise to mine. My jaw drops and I try to form the words I was looking for but nothing slips out.

“Nina?”

“The bruise.” I croak out, dropping my own hood that was still up.

Her eyes grow wide, I knew we were thinking the same thing in that moment. It couldn't be true though. Dropping the mug back on the counter, I hop down from the chair and make my way around to her. Haven’s eyes were like that of a fawn, she seemed scared but I think it might have been something akin to astonishment.

My hands reached out and found her arm as she flinched away from the touch, but remained in my grasp. Her eyes met mine with a mix of emotions swimming in those mercury depths. Slowly I rolled up the sleeve to her left arm, taking it painstakingly slow for fear that all my suspicions would be correct. I rolled her sleeve up the last bit of the way and my breath left my lungs, there on her forearm was a faded looking scar of an M.

I captured my bottom lip between my teeth as I trace my finger over her arm. “It’s you…” I whisper, rushing to roll up my own sleeve and showed her the source of her scar. “It’s really you. All this time you’ve been getting hurt and-” I stop speaking for a moment, my thoughts getting jumbled and incoherent while I shake my head. “I thought you were a guy…” I confess, cheeks painted red.

Haven smiled at me, not a care in those features, “My God. We found each other… After so long, you’re really here. You’re beautiful.” She just barely got out, a sob catching in her throat.

I can only shake my head at her. “No. Haven, I’m sorry. This-” I motion between us. “This can’t be right. This can’t happen. I don’t like-”

Haven burst into tears, a waterfall streaming from her eyes as she held my shoulders tightly. “No! Nina, don’t say that! Please, don’t say that! This is meant to be! Nina, I need you…” She bawled and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret pull at my heart for having said that, or gotten out what I could. I repeatedly shake my head, taking a few steps backwards but only to hit the counter behind me.

The only motion I could do was to shake my head back and forth, over and over as I stared at her with eyes that shone with disbelief. My heart pounded in my chest as grief took hold of my chest so tightly I felt like I was suffocating. My arms wrapped themselves around my stomach as I felt the anguish claw its way into my gut. “Haven-” Was the only word that was able to tumble its way past my lips before Haven herself pulled me down the short distance to her height.

My first reaction was to pull away for the thought of having another woman’s lips on mine brought up the feeling of immorality, but after I actually felt her lips on mine something in me stirred. It was like everything just felt right in that moment. The woman who I shared my pain with and her mine was with me. We were two that the universe believed to be perfect for each other, two halves finally joining. So in that moment when the anguish and grief and disbelief in my stomach morphed into butterflies and my knees felt weak, I just gave in. Instead of slowly slipping into that love that everybody talks about, I plunged in, letting the perfect feeling of pure bliss set in.

My lips attacked hers back, not hesitating and taking her slightly by shock. I could feel her hands slide from my shoulders and rest on the small of my back to pull me closer to her. I could feel her take a moment to smile against my lips, she knew, just as I knew, that she was right. This was meant to be. We were meant to be.

My hands went to her face and cupped it in both of my hands before I pulled away reluctantly, breathless. My breathing felt erratic as I stood there holding her dainty face, wiping the tears that had long stopped flowing, only for me to begin to feel tears of my on crawl their ways down my cheeks. “I’m sorry, so sorry Haven. I didn’t mean to make you cry, I just didn’t believe!” I whispered out between gasps for air and my cries. I couldn’t get myself to look her in the eye.

Haven kissed me again, but this time just a peck. I looked up and searched those stormy eyes like my life depended on it. “No need for apologies. It’s okay, everything is perfect.” She smiled and wiped my cheeks as well from the tears that stained them.

I nodded trying to stop the tears that were beginning to slow and the quiver in my lip. She was so apologetic and understanding that I was had to take a moment to thank that higher power up there, let it be the universe or not, that it knew what it was doing when it brought me to Haven.

I let my fingers gingerly brush over the bruise that stained the skin on her cheek, shaking my head. “Why did you ever stay with him?”

She averted her gaze. “I don’t know. I thought I would never find you. Once I was with him, he wouldn’t let me leave… I was stuck and he treated me like a piece of garbage.”

Instinctively I pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly and protectively to me. “Well, now I’m here, and I won’t let anything happen to you anymore. Do you hear me? Those are gonna be the last of your bruises.”

Haven only nodded, hugging me back tightly. All I could do was hold her, reveling in the silence that engulfed us, though it was a comfortable silence.

“I love you Nina.”

My breathing hitched for a moment at the sentence that she uttered, but I remembered the lips that uttered it. Remembered the feel of those silky lips against mine and the beauty of it all and its flawlessness, and my body relaxed.

“I love you too Haven.”

Suddenly she pulled away from me, a genuine smile spreading across her face. I thought the smile had been from me saying those three words back to her, but when she blushed, I knew it had to be more. “You’re my safety Nina… You’re my haven.”

I returned her beautiful smile with my own as I kissed her quickly once more. Determined to memorize every detail and feel of those lips even though I knew I had our whole lives together to do that.

“That I am.”