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?

because your eyes were… 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

that her mother liked Alex. She didn’t have

I don’t

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 miserable if they

opened her mouth to defend herself, but no words came to mind. She couldn’t find the words

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

was about to leave, she glanced

and hastily followed her

Fowler, Tina isn’t

was in disbelief,

see

Fowler gingerly moved forward and lifted Tina’s long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Sure enough, all sorts of wounds covered her body. Some looked

scary sight to behold, and Mrs. Fowler immediately burst into tears when she saw all the wounds covering her baby daughter’s

her. That’s why she pretended to be sick because she didn’t want

also started crying silently as she saw her mother’s remorseful

time she had hugged Tina in six months. She never

for you, I wouldn’t know what else that beast would do to

heart felt constricted as she delicately caressed

to do now,

I wanted Tina to have a better life. I always thought that a father figure was important to a child’s development.

wounds on Tina as a thought popped into her mind. “But Tina’s injuries can’t be in vain. We need to make Alex pay

leaving this dumpster fire

considered a prestigious family in Blaydal.

is nobody. They can’t even compare to the

in her tone, “There was once he beat me up when he was drunk. He kept muttering about working with the Alphascape Group and evading tax worth a total of 200 million. Maybe

The Alphascape Group?