• "P-please.. stop it.."
    A whimper, soft and shakey, a voice drenched in fear.
    Alaena was inside the bathroom, sitting on the linoleum tile floor with her back against the locked door, knees pulled up to her chest and face hidden behind her hands. Violent banging on the door from the outside of the bathroom was produced from her abusive boyfriend, Jim. She slowly took her hands away from her face, a dark blackish purple bruise around one of her tired eyes. Both of her cheeks were wet from her tears. She slowly stood, boyfriend still yelling and knocking hard on the door, and walked to the bathroom counter. She looked at herself and began to weep quietly.

    She was a shell of her former self. She used to be so lovely and full of energy. She would laugh and smile all the time. Now, she was a bruised, beaten, depressed being. Her eyes had lost their sparkle.

    Alaena looked down at the counter, at the small collection of lotion and shampoos and.. razors. She quickly pushed the lotion and shampoos away, scrambling until she found a single razor blade. She carefully set it on her palm, looking at it with curiosity. The loud banging from the door had now ceased, her boyfriend stopped and she could hear his footsteps slowly fade as he got further away.

    Once the footsteps were completely gone, she took the razor blade from her palm and positioned it above her right wrist. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for the pain. Then, she brought down the razor blade and slashed it across her wrist, cutting deep into the skin. Blood began to pour out from the large cut, droplets falling onto the linoleum floor and forming a small puddle of crimson red. She dropped to her knees and let out a whimper as she watched her blood pour from the cut. She began to feel weak, and she fell down into a laying position, eyes closing and she let out a last whimper.

    The footsteps returned, not as harsh as before. Jim sighed and began to apologize through the door. When he heard nothing, he asked if she was okay. Not getting an answer, he began to get worried. He opened the door and gasped when he saw it. Blood smeared on the floor, the side of the tub, and Alaena's lifeless body sprawled out on the floor. He fell back against the door frame and slid down onto the floor in the doorway, staring at his girlfriend's bloody and bruised body. He then slowly crawled over and caressed her cheek, pulling her into a hug. He softly whispered into her ear, "I'm sorry.."