Eva's pov
A dull ache pulls me from my sleep.
At first, I didn't move. My body lays still beneath the thin, torn blanket, my breathing is slow and shallow. For a moment I thought I could stay perfectly still and the pain might fade, but the moment I tried to shift even slightly, a sharp stab tore through my side.
I sucked in a breath. That was a bad idea.
The air barely made it into my lungs before my chest screamed in protest. The fractured rib felt like a blade lodged beneath my skin, every breath pressing painfully against it. I quickly exhaled, forcing myself to breathe slowly and carefully.
It hurt, it hurt so bad that I can't bear the pain.
My entire side throbbed with a deep, heavy pain that pulsed with every heartbeat. It felt tight, like my chest had been wrapped in iron bands. Any small movement like rolling my shoulder, stretching my arm or even coughing sent a burning jolt through my ribs.
I slowly opened my eye. My left eye was swollen. When I try opening it, a sharp soreness spreads across my cheekbone and temple. I gritted my teeth and gave up on trying to open it.
My right eye blinked against the dim light in the room. Everything felt heavy. My head pounded with a dull pressure, and my face ached as if every muscle had been bruised.
Tears rolled down my face as I recalled how my younger sister, Sarah beat me up because I forgot to complete her homework and my step mother simply stood and watched as I was beaten up by her daughter.
My family hates me, they always have. Not once did they ever show any sort of affection toward me. When I was little, my step mother, Celeste used to keep me locked in the basement and only at night would she let me out. Sometimes she would even forget about me and leave me lying there for days without food or water.
I've never met my mother, my father told me my mother died giving birth to me and that I was the one who had killed her. He also said that I should've died instead of her.
As time went by I had gotten used to their beatings and insults and eventually I lost my voice, I became mute at the age of eight.
And since then my life became more miserable. Outside I was mocked and bullied. At school the kids make my life torturous that sometimes I can't even bear it. I tried ending my pathetic life many times but somehow I still managed to survive.
I slowly but carefully lift my hand to touch the side of my face, my fingers brushes against the tender and swollen skin.
Even the lightest touch hurt.
My ribs throb as I slowly but gently try and get up from the mattress.The pain spreads across my side, sharp and deep, forcing me to freeze immediately. I clench the blanket in my hand, waiting for the worst of it to pass.
Breathing hurt.
Moving hurt.
Even lying still hurt.
I swallowed slowly, my throat dry, and stared up at the ceiling with my one open eye. The morning light creeping through the window felt far too bright for the way my body ached.
Every inch of my body felt sore, exhausted, and fragile—like one wrong movement might shatter what little strength I had left.
_____________________________________________________
A loud bang against the door shattered the quiet of the room.
I flinched, my heart pounded.
The sudden noise sent a sharp jolt of pain straight through my ribs. My side throbbed immediately, the fractured bone protesting at the sudden movement.
Another bang echoed through the room.
"Open this door Eva!" Sarah's voice snapped from the other side of the door.
I gritted my teeth, bracing myself as the pain slowly settled into a dull, burning ache.
The door rattled as Sarah pounded on it again.
I slowly pushed myself upright.
The moment I moved, a stabbing pain shot through my side. My breath hitched and I froze halfway up, gripping the edge of the mattress. It felt like my ribs were grinding against each other with every small movement.
"Don't make me come in there!" Sarah yelled impatiently.
I waited… breathing slowly… until the worst of the pain faded into a throbbing ache again.
Every movement after that felt like a punishment. I carefully slid my legs off the bed and stood up, my body trembling slightly as I tried to stay balanced. My ribs screamed in protest the moment I straightened.
My swollen eye throbbed painfully with each step but still I forced myself toward the door.
"If you don't open this door-"
Before she could complete her sentence I opened the door.
"What took you so long?" She asked.
I lowered my gaze saying nothing.
"Go," she ordered. "Prepare breakfast before mom and dad get up."
I slowly made my way down the stairs, one careful step at a time. Each movement made my ribs ache, forcing myself to breathe shallowly so the pain wouldn't spike again.
By the time I reached the kitchen, my side was throbbing badly.
The bright morning light pours through the windows making my swollen eye sting but I ignored the pain and continued. I moved toward the counter and began gathering ingredients—eggs, bread, and a pan.
My hands were trembling slightly as I cracked the eggs into a bowl.
My fractured rib pulsed painfully every time I reached for something or leaned forward. But I kept going, quietly preparing breakfast while the pain burned through my chest with every breath I took.