Scars Part 7

Connie ran the whole way home, her eyes blinded by tears. How could she have been so rude? All the horrible feelings brewing inside her had suddenly spilled out in an uncontrollable flood of words. She fumbled with her keys, wishing her mom were home to comfort her, at the same time glad she wasn’t there to be angry at her daughter for skipping school. Sobbing, Connie dumped her bag on the floor and fled to her backyard sanctuary. There was a tree in her yard that held a special place in her heart. Through every trial it had been her thinking place, a safe and familiar habitat for tears or laughter. Now beneath its quiet branches, Connie sank wearily down, desperate for peace to ease her twisted spirit. Even in the shade of her special tree, she couldn’t erase the look of calm despair shining through Alice’s eyes. Those horrible scars. They were ugly even to remember. Connie stood and walked back into her house, up the stairs to her bathroom. She stared at her reflection critically.

 Even with her face stained with running mascara and her nose red, Connie knew she was still beautiful. Her soft brown eyes were framed with thick lashes, her mouth was pretty and full, her teeth were straight and known for their whiteness; her hair was a pearly blonde and always hung neatly and stylishly atop her head. Connie’s family was rich and other girls were often jealous of her beautiful clothes and expensive jewelry. Most of them showed it. Spiteful and nit-picky, they would scrutinize her for flaws and spread rumors about her.

  Breaking into tears again, Connie realized that the one girl at school who had the most reason to be jealous had never so much spoken a word against her to anybody. She had never acted unkindly even after the way Connie had treated her. Compassion gripping her heart, Connie picked up her eyeliner from the sink top. Wanting to imagine, wanting to step into another world, another heart, another face--- she drew a jagged black line from her forehead across her nose and down her right cheek.