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?

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 to treat me,

knew very well that her mother liked Alex. She didn’t have the heart to destroy her mother’s

likes him. I don’t want to disappoint

for her? Her daughter suffering in silence

words came to mind. She couldn’t find the words

turned to walk out of the room where she saw Spencer and Mrs. Fowler. Then, she asked

when she was about to leave, she glanced at Spencer.

hastily

Fowler, Tina isn’t

disbelief, “How

you see the wounds on

and long pants. Sure enough, all sorts of

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

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

also started crying silently as she saw her

hug. This was the first time she had hugged Tina in six months. She never knew that Tina had been

you, I

constricted as she delicately caressed

do you plan to do now, Mrs.

a better life. I always thought that a father figure was important to a child’s development. Who knew… I

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

Mrs. Fowler’s mind was filled with thoughts of leaving

Blaydal. I’m a

standing by the side, sneered when he heard that. “The Fowler Family is nobody. They can’t even compare to

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

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