The Pain Within
The sunlight filtering through the window was far too bright. Sarah slowly opened her eyes, instantly regretting it as a sharp pain shot through her head. She let out a small groan and slowly lifted her hand to her forehead, feeling the large bump that had formed.
She tried to remember what had happened the night before but her mind was foggy
She remembered going to a party with some friends from work.
There was dancing and drinking.
A lot of drinking, if the state of her head was any indication. Beyond that, it was all a blur.
Sarah slowly sat up in bed, the movement causing another wave of pain. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, waiting for it to pass. Once it had subsided to a dull ache, she slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
That was a mistake.
As soon as she was on her feet, the room started spinning. Sarah reached out to grab the nightstand but missed, falling hard to her knees. The impact sent shockwaves of agony through her body. A sob escaped her lips as the tears came, tears of physical and emotional pain.
What had she done last night? How had she ended up alone in her bed with no memory and this massive headache? The not knowing was almost as bad as the pain itself. Sarah stayed on the floor, crying as the memories refused to surface.
After several minutes, when the tears had slowed, Sarah slowly got back to her feet, using the bed for support this time. She made her way unsteadily to the bathroom and flipped on the light. What she saw in the mirror made her gasp.
Her normally smooth skin was broken out in bruises. A dark purple mark stained her cheek and her lip was split. When had this happened? Had she gotten into a fight? She probed the injuries gently, hissing in pain at the tenderness. More tears welled in her eyes as the confusion and hurt overwhelmed her.
Sarah left the bathroom in a daze, sinking down onto the couch. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her aching head, going over the previous night again and again, desperately trying to piece it together. Flashes started coming back to her - loud music, dancing wildly, shots being poured. But then it went dark.
She must have blacked out at some point. That would explain why she couldn't remember how she got home or how these injuries occurred. But what, or who had caused them? Sarah shuddered at the thought of not knowing what or who had hurt her while she was in such a vulnerable state.
The tears came again as Sarah realized just how out of control the situation had gotten. She never should have drank so much. Now she was left with the physical and emotional scars of a night she couldn't even recall. The pain and confusion were almost unbearable.
Sarah cried for a long time, releasing all of the hurt, fear, and uncertainty through her tears. When they finally slowed, she felt drained but also determined. She wouldn't let this define her or break her down. She would heal from this, both physically and mentally. And she would be more careful going forward, to ensure nothing like this ever happened again. The tears were cleansing, and with them came the strength to keep going despite the pain within.
