Rumors

Rilla Imns

There are rumors about Rilla Imns. That she gets beat at home, that she had two suicide attempts, that she's dealing with so many horrible things. Maybe that's the case, maybe not. Everyone knows her, and pities her. That pity fades but then is renewed by that new bruise on her face or those fresh cuts on her body. That pity that causes people to smile at her or maintain a conversation with her. She uses that pity to worm her way into people's beds, and their fridges, often leaving them in two weeks or less. Her exes say she fucks them like it's the only source of happiness she can get—like she's drowning and they're her lifeline. But that pity vanishes when they catch her leering at her last lover with a knife in her hand and a mad glint in her eye. The pity has turned into fear.

Did you know that Rilla killed someone last year? Yeah, apparently she had an argument with her boyfriend and killed him. I don't know why. . . Maybe he hit her and she snapped lol.

Rilla Imns gets no more pity. Unless it's from the new kids who quickly learn from others. After a suspension and a parent conference, her bruises all fit neatly under her clothes. There's a bit of room to spare for cuts though. She never tells anyone what happened in August. There's no point, it seems, when they turn on her so easily, avoiding her and attacking her as if she did kill someone. No point in telling them how she was actually a virgin, and just let people say what they want. She always thinks this one will be different, this one actually cares. But they all expect the same thing—and leave her when it's apparent they won't get it. Of course, they spread lies out of spite and pride. All of them have followed that same story arc without fail until one night when a Luke Wily comes to her drunk, and takes what he wants with a blade against her throat. He regrets it the next day when he kisses her cheek and she screams, ripping a letter opener from her pocket and stabbing him. Her eyes glare but her knees shiver.

Don't go near that girl. She's not the type of person you want influencing your decisions.

Rilla Imns gets thinner and thinner until she almost disappears. She's in between a place of laziness and sleep, unresponsive, unaware. Her teeth chatters so loudly she has to bite her fingers to keep herself quiet. She spends hours awake in her prison room tormented by her nightmares brought to life. She hears footsteps and it's as if she disappears from her body, floating above, watching numbly as her father relieves his stress and anger. She doesn't know how he got like this but it started after she killed her brother. His favorite child. She wasn't supposed to be alive. It should have been Nik that survived. He wouldn't have made her mistakes. He was worthy and deserving of life. Not her. In fact, he died by taking the bullet meant for her. She didn't deserve to eat.

Hey Rilla, didn't you have a brother? I bet he left you like all of your exes did. Wait no, don't start crying. It was just a joke. Why are you so sensitive?

There are rumors about Rilla Imns. That she threw herself off a cliff, that her family finally got rid of her, that she passed a bullet through her heart by her brother's grave. In truth, she screamed at her father all the words stuck inside, finally scraping away her hate and despair. Her liberation lasted all of three seconds—until he bashed her unconscious and tossed her body in the river. Maybe she survived, maybe she didn't. Maybe she lies catatonic in a faraway hospital, crippled and malnourished with a rising medical bill covered by a kind soul. Maybe she survived and now lives on the riverbank of an uninhabited land. We shall never know, so best not to spread any rumors.