Chapter 2
I had just stepped out of the bathroom when I saw Sawyer standing by the door.
The gentle smile he had just moments ago was completely gone from his face.
It was replaced by a terrifying grimace I had never seen before.
"What did you just do in there?"
His voice was as cold as ice.
His stare made my blood run cold, and I shrank back.
"I... I just washed my face."
His eyes were locked on the two tissue papers I had just used to dry my hands.
"You used those to wipe your hands?"
I nodded, a bad feeling creeping into my heart.
The next second, a loud slap landed hard across my face.
The force was so brutal that it sent me flying, slamming hard into the cold wall behind me.
My ears were ringing, my cheek burning with pain.
I held my face, staring at him in disbelief.
Fifteen years.
We've known each other for fifteen whole years.
He had never once laid a finger on me.
But now, the disgust and anger in his eyes looked like he wanted to tear me apart.
"You are a disgusting freak."
He rushed over and kicked me hard in the stomach.
"How do you deserve to live? Why don't you just die?"
The pain curled me up on the floor, tears and nosebleed mixing together.
"Sawyer, what's wrong with you?"
I knelt on the ground, crying, and reached for his pant leg.
"I just dried my hands. What did I do wrong?
"Please, just tell me, okay?"
He jerked back as if touched by something filthy.
"Don't touch me."
He kicked me away again, like I was a piece of trash.
"Get out. Get out of here."
He yanked the door open, grabbed me by the hair, and dragged me out.
My forehead hit the doorframe, and blood from my nose splattered everywhere.
The huge commotion startled the neighbors.
They opened their doors one after another, sticking their heads out to see the show.
"Sawyer, what's going on? Why are you hitting your girlfriend?"
A familiar auntie tried to intervene.
Sawyer pointed at me, roaring at everyone.
"Look at her. She is a freak. She used paper to wipe her hands."
That sentence was like a switch.
The look in all the neighbors' eyes changed instantly.
The sympathy they had a moment ago turned into scorn and disgust.
"Oh, is that it? Then she deserves it."
"Someone like that, beating her to death wouldn't be too much."
They whispered among themselves, then slammed their doors shut with a loud bang.
I was locked outside, like a stray dog.
I dragged my suitcase, stumbling my way back towards the university.
My face was swollen like a pig's, the wounds on my body burning with pain.
People on the street stared, pointing fingers at me.
I only had the dorm left.
Only my roommates could give me a little warmth.
The four of us had always been close, like sisters.
Last time I had a high fever, they took turns watching over me, giving me water and medicine.
That warm memory was my only comfort now.
I used the last of my strength to climb the dormitory stairs.
Pushing the dorm door open, my three roommates were gathered together eating takeout.
They were shocked by my miserable state.
"Oh my god, what happened to you?"
Margaret reacted first, rushing over with concern to support me.
"Did that bastard Sawyer hit you?"
The other two roommates also gathered around, full of concern and outrage.