Elysium

c u a t r o

Mom walks into the kitchen with the Diaz's trailing behind her. "You have already met Alani but this is my other daughter Everly." She gestures me to stand up and I oblige. I get up to shake both Mr. and Mrs. Diaz's hands, "it's nice to meet you hopefully you've heard all good things about me." I smile at them both.

Pulling me in for a hug, "oh call me Maria sweetie Mrs. Diaz is so formal." She laughs while her husband shakes my hand firmly while saying "you can call me Alejandro." I can tell they want to say something about the bruises but they keep quiet. I should have covered them up with make up but I kind of forgot. I also kind of left all my make up behind.

I really need to go shopping to buy everything I need. I'll be back to work on Monday which means I have two days to shop. I'm sure Alani will want to come with me, which reminds me I need to get a dress for her graduation. I'll see if we are able to go tomorrow. There's so much to do in such a short amount of time.

As they both move away I look up to see this man who I'm assuming is their son. He looks about six feet tall with short dark wavy hair. He has a tiny beauty mark under his greyish brown eyes. I also notice he has a tattoo on his left upper arm but I can't tell what it is due to his shirt sleeve. "Hi I'm Everly, nice to meet you." Before I get to hear his name we are all rushed by my mom to take a seat at the table before the food gets cold.

Once we all get settled and grace is said we all start digging in. My parents and the Diaz's are sitting right across from each other and are talking amongst themselves. Alani is sitting to my left and the Diaz's son is sitting across from her staring at me. Him staring makes me look down at my plate, I know he's staring at my bruises. I hate this.

"So Everson how is it being back?" Alani questions as she shoves chicken in her mouth. So that's his name. Everson.

He takes a sip of water and says, "so far it's been pretty good, I've missed being back home." Wow his voice is so smooth, I didn't expect that. I can feel his eyes still on me and it's making me feel so uncomfortable. I was hungry but now I've lost my appetite. All I can think of is him staring at me and judging me. I need to leave the table I can't stay here with the constant stares.

"How long were you gone for again." Once Alani finishes asking her question for Everson I excuse myself and quickly make my way to the bathroom.

Before I even open the bathroom door my tears stars falling down. I hurry inside and turn the water on so I can rinse my face. I wish I didn't have to go through this. The constant stares and judging is just so overwhelming. My eyes are red and my cheeks are puffy, great I can't go back to the table like this. I don't know what to do. I just wanted to have a normal day today where I don't have to worry about all of this.

Let me just go back out there and try to have a good time despite the circumstances. I open the bathroom door and walk out to immediately walk into Everson and his damn grayish brown eyes staring at me. "Sorry" I mutter out and attempt to walk away until I feel his hand on my shoulder which makes me tense up. "Are you okay?" He asks as he removes his hand.

I turn around to face him, "Are you only asking because of the bruises so that you can judge me more than you already have? You've been staring at me ever since we sat down at the table and to be quite honest it's been making me feel so self conscious about myself." Why did I say that? He's probably thinking I'm crazy and that I need help.

"I was only asking because it looks like you were crying. If I was staring at you it's probably because I spaced out, I promise I wasn't staring at your bruises which by the way look very bad." Oh, I'm officially an idiot who is stuck in her own damn mind. "If it made you uncomfortable I'm sorry I will try to not let it happen again."

I clear my throat, "how do you know they look very bad if you weren't looking at them?" I raise my eyebrow at him and cross my arms. "I saw them when your mom introduced you and I'm looking at you right now." He smirks. I guess that makes sense.

"You still haven't answered my question though," he studies my face as he waits for my response. Do I lie and say I'm fine or do I tell the truth to this guy I don't really know? "I'm fine, I just needed a little bit of time to gather myself. Thanks for asking." He doesn't seem convinced. "You don't seem fine."

"Well if your night was anything like mine then you would understand to just drop it and leave it be. We should really get back to the table before our families suspect something." I turn away from him and start walking back to the dining room. Who does he think he is coming up to me and asking me all these questions?

He follows behind me, "I'll leave it be for now but we can talk later about that." He brushes by me and gets to the table while I'm stuck standing in the kitchen. Talk later? What is that supposed to mean?

I return back to the table and take my seat, I give Alani a nod to let her know everything is alright. "So Everson, how long are you back for or are you finished serving?" I ask as I take a sip of water.

He looks at me, "I'm back for about four months before I go back." That must suck to be gone for so long and then when you come back you are only here for such a short period of time. Him and Alani start talking a little about what he was doing in Afghanistan. I listen for a bit until I zone out into my own little thoughts.

While everyone is enjoying conversation and finishing dinner, I decide to go out to the backyard and just take in the fresh air. I take a seat on the couch and just close my eyes as the cool breeze goes by. Right now I just want to relax and think about nothing.

This is just day one of not being there, so far it's been a bit of a roller coaster of emotions but I know I can get through it. I just have to be patient with myself. I feel a dip in the seat right next to me along with Everson asking, "is this spot taken?" I open my eyes and turn to him, "well not anymore."

There is a bit of an awkward silence between us before he starts speaking, "so what's your story?" I look at him with a questioning look on my face, "my story? What do you mean?"

"Yes your story. Are you a fighter and that's why you look like that or did something happen?" Is he joking right now? "That's actually very rude of you to ask me that, I don't even know you in fact I literally just met you and for you to ask me that is just crazy to me." I'm bewildered that he would even ask me that. Who in the world asks someone they just met why they look a certain way?

"Look Alani told me to ask you but if I knew you would get this attitude about it I would have just kept my mouth shut." He gets up and starts walking towards the door. "Hey!" I yell as I get up and grab his shoulder, he turns around so quick which scares me. I hurry and cover my face to prepare myself for what's to come.

When nothing comes I slowly remove my hands and open my eyes. Everson is staring at me with a blank expression. Maybe he didn't notice? No he definitely noticed. I look down at my feet and whisper out, "You don't get to walk away after just saying that. I'm sick of men thinking they can control everything about a woman." All of this could have been avoided if Alani didn't send him out here to talk to me.

"Did you really believe I was gonna hit you?" I look up at him and give a tiny nod. I didn't think he would hurt me it was just an instinct. "The bruises and marks, who hurt you Everly?" His voice is so gentle and quiet like he's afraid his words will hurt me.

I never wanted this.

Pity.

I don't want people to look at me and see me as someone who is incapable of taking care of herself. Them thinking I'm weak when that's far from what I am. I may not have been able to fight back but I sure as hell am strong for leaving.

With tears in my eyes, "i-it doesn't matter. I don't w-want to talk about it." This time it's me walking to the door instead of him. He doesn't follow after me and I'm grateful for that.