Chapter 18 That's right

• My eyelids flutter open, I squint at the bright lights pouring into my face. A sharp pain pierces my skull, I hold my hands to my head and clench my eyes shut, opening it at the caresses on my arm. Maria’s face hovers over mine, I blink to clear the dots in my vision. The headache eventually subsides, I send a small smile her way to allay her worries. With her help, I sit up and scan the room. There are only two beds and the other one is empty. Maria is on a small bench by my bed, my hand clutched protectively in hers. 
• Light filters in from the high windows, I stare at the white walls until it clicks. We are at the school clinic. Pushing the damp hair out of my forehead, I whimper when I try to bend. My lower stomach hurts like I was beaten badly in a fight. That’s right, I was punched. Punched by that asshole in an unfair fight. 
• Maria must have read my thoughts, she turns my face to one side while stroking my cheek and I am reminded of Ben’s fingers cutting into my soft skin. She passes me a hand mirror, I flinch at the visible fingerprints on my cheek. The marks will fade, makeup will hide the scratch on one side of my face but it still stings. He also left his imprints on my neck from when he almost strangled me. My parched throat closes up at the memory. I cough, she shoves a cup of water into my hand, I down it in one gulp.