Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Tina dared not look Elspeth in the eye, and her body shrunk back into her corner when she heard those words. “I really didn’t—”

“This room is filled with a strong scent. While most people wouldn’t be able to identify it at the get-go, I know what that is. It’s an ointment for bruises.”

Elspeth knew that the truth behind Tina being covered with countless bruises and that she was going out of her way to avoid exposure would be revealed soon enough.

“Miss Fowler, I’ll keep it a secret. I won’t tell anyone.” Elspeth promised in a gentle tone. “Believe me, Tina, alright?”

Tina’s eyes reddened upon hearing Elspeth’s reassurances, making her look like a porcelain doll close to shattering.

“Don’t cry. Tell me. I’ll help you.”

Tina took in a deep breath before slowly recounting her story, “My mom divorced my dad and remarried Alex Fowler a few years later when I was four.”

Elspeth listened attentively to Tina, but she could already guess what had happened in her mind.

“Unfortunately, Alex showed his true colors just a couple of years later and started abusing me. He would beat me up whenever my mom wasn’t around. My mom really liked him. So, despite all the violence he had hurled at me, I kept my silence. I kept it a secret and didn’t even tell Spencer. Alex’s abuse worsened because of my lack of reaction.”

Tears rolled off Tina’s cheeks as she told her tale. It was agonizing to bare her story to another after keeping it a secret for so many heartrending years.

“Then, the heliophobia…”

Pain flashed across Tina’s eyes as she muttered bitterly, “I don’t have heliophobia. I just didn’t want to see people. The beating was frequent, and I was constantly covered with bruises. I was afraid people might notice. So, I came up with an excuse to avoid ever leaving.”

Only Spencer, her childhood friend, didn’t distance himself from her and often came over to accompany her.

“Why didn’t you fight back?”

Elspeth couldn’t wrap her mind around it. Why would Tina be willing to suffer the beating for such a long time?

It was filled with such strength despite being gentle. You make me feel safe. But you’re also a young girl. You may be able to

well that her mother liked Alex. She didn’t have the heart to

I

turned sharp at that comment. “How do you know that your mom wouldn’t feel disappointed instead? You saw how she looked at you just now. Do you really think this is good for her? Her daughter suffering in silence for her happiness? Any mother would be

came to mind. She couldn’t find the words to refute Elspeth’s

room where she saw Spencer and Mrs. Fowler. Then, she asked Mrs. Fowler, “Mrs. Fowler,

to leave, she glanced

nodded and hastily followed her

Fowler, Tina

was in disbelief, “How

you see the wounds on her

long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Sure enough, all sorts of wounds covered her body. Some looked like knife cuts,

to behold, and Mrs. Fowler immediately burst into tears when she saw

Alex Fowler, abused her. That’s why she pretended

also started crying silently as she saw her mother’s

time she had hugged Tina

you, I wouldn’t know what else

as she delicately caressed Tina’s hair, treating her daughter with utmost

do you plan to do now, Mrs.

Mrs. Fowler’s eyes. “Divorce. Ours was a casual relationship, to begin with. I married him only because I wanted Tina to have a better life.

“But

thoughts of leaving this dumpster fire behind, she didn’t think

Blaydal. I’m

the side, sneered when he heard that. “The Fowler Family is nobody. They can’t even compare to the White Family. Tina is my friend, and

time, Tina thought of something and murmured with a slight waver in her tone, “There was once he beat me up when he was drunk. He

The Alphascape Group?