Echoes from the past (Sixth chapter)

A Chapter by AnayaJ.

Reassurance.

-FLASHBACK-
By the time I reached my home, I was bawling my eyes out. Alicia had made fun of me in front of the entire population of the school. I have never felt so embarrassed in my sixteen year old life as I did at that moment, for something I couldn't even help.

"Erica? Are you crying?" My mom asked me skeptically, "What's wrong dear? Erica?"

Ignoring her questions, I stormed upstairs to my room and slammed the door shut. I threw my bag on the floor and started sobbing hysterically as I thumped on the bed. It was enough. I couldn't take it anymore. Why is it so bad to not have flawless physical features? Everyone can't be perfect, right? Why is outside beauty more important than the one on inside? Cursing my ugly features and half of our world's mentality, I drifted to sleep.

"Erica? Erica! Wake up! Erica!" I buried myself under the blankets to block my ten year old brother's voice. When he saw that his attempts were failing, he started to jump on the bed maniacally, singing 'Let It Go'. Irritated, I tried to shove him off the bed, but being the monkey he is, he escaped and started jumping near the edge.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? JACK, GET OFF! GET OFF! MOM! MOM! WHERE ARE YOU?" I was shouting at the top of my lungs, "JACK, GET OFF!"

"Why are your eyes so...red? Do you have an infection?" Jack asked, his voice laced with concern. His eyes widened when he didn't get a response, mistaking it for a 'yes'. "MOM! ERICA HAS AN INFECTION! MO-"

I covered his mouth with my palm, muffling his words.

"I don't have an infection, okay? It's because of....sleep deprivation, yeah, sleep deprivation," I tried to convince him, but I knew his smartness won't allow him to accept the lame excuse.

"What's wrong, sis? Why were you crying?" he asked in his adorable, babyish voice that always made me give in.

"Someone called me ugly," I replied.

"Must be a blind person, then," I smiled at his response.

"Really? You don't think I'm ugly?"

"Nah, even with your big nose, I think you're very pretty. And your nose isn't even that big. I mean, if I cut it off and lay it on my palm, it will occupy only one quarter, approximately."

His innocence made me chuckle, and I would be lying if I said that I didn't feel light hearted after sharing my problems with him.

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© 2016 AnayaJ.

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WriterGirl247247

Good idea to show the event that changed everything.

In chapter 2, you use italics during the flashback. Make sure you're consistent.

Be careful with character's word choice. A ten year old wouldn't normally have "approximately" in their vocab.

Ready for the next chapter.