Finding Adelaide

A heavy weight held May forcefully towards the uncomfortable mattress. She was sweating, but the hairs on her bare shoulders were standing upright. A deep snore let out from the right-hand side side of the bed. May knew it was not her own, nor did she remember the owner of this queer sound. May was afraid. She wanted to jump out of the bed and run as far away as fast as possible but, she could barely open her youthful eyes.

The sun was glaring through the window and she couldn't help but cover her face with a pillow. May's body was aching but not as much as the consisting pain in her head. The ceaseless questions in her mind,

"who am I laying next to?" and "what happened last night?"

Only small snippets kept replaying, dirty brown liquid, broken glass and men with money. She felt lost, deflated. She has almost no idea where she was and how she got there.

May found the courage to open her eyes. The sun was throwing daggers as she tried to sit up. She studied the man beside her, before glancing away. His light hair was untidy like the stubble on his cheeks. She manoeuvred out from the itchy sheets and reached for her clothes scattered around the floor. May got dressed then quickly searched for a bathroom down the hall.

The bathroom smelt like sweat but the large mirror took her attention. Her dark hair was ratty and her makeup had smeared. The red dress was tight around her small frame and seemed too short for a sixteen year old. The bags under her eyes were no longer covered by makeup. She looked as exhausted as she felt. As she stared into her own bloodshot eyes the only thing that consumed her mind was the screaming reminder of who she was becoming.

It was 3:27am , but the lights were still on when may found her way home. Aunty-Tess was pacing, she looked furious. Her face was filed with rage and May could feel the hatred burning through herself.

"Where have you been young lady?!" Aunty-Tess spat, "It's fucking 3:00 in the goddamn morning and you're a 14 year old girl!"

"I'm sorry," May mumbled in response.

"The hell you're not!" Aunt-Tess bit back, "the only thing you're sorry about is the fact that you got caught."

Aunt-Tess was right. May didn't care that she snuck out, in fact, the strong red mark of a hand on her cheek didn't sting as much as it used to. Every time her Aunt screamed its like they both cared less and less.

"You know, I don't even give a shit about you anymore, little May," Her words were sour, "you're a worthless child, who will never be part of my family." Her Aunt's eyes turned from hot red to ice cold, "you're even worse than your mother."

May stared at the mascara that dripped from her blue-grey eyes. She pulled at her hair in hope that she would think of anything else. All these flashes kept coming back. May hated Mondays. The school halls smelt like old cheese and there were too many people in her way. May was used to the ugly looks and the silence of talking as she passed. Girls would laugh and stare but their bullshit was louder.

"...I heard that her mum died"

"I heard that she killed her mum herself!" They all chuckled

"OMG true! I mean it couldn't be hard by the amount of drugs she has anyway!" One girl tried to interrupt, "guys shut up! She's right there!" The girl moved he eyes towards May's locker in the most obvious way. Another replied,

"Oh come on! She spends all her time drinking and smoking. I doubt she's smart enough to even understand us."

"Yeah what a dumb bitch."

"Oh and get this," they all moved their heads in closer so they were touching, "Someone told me that she lost her V-card when she was like 13!" their faces were full of judgement and disgust.