Katherine

I never thought fairytales could be real. To believe in them would’ve been considered childish.

But when I found out they were more than just real, and I was suddenly sucked into one, it took me a long time to realize I was finally free....

-----------

I’m ugly. I’ll admit it.

At least that’s what everyone I’ve ever encountered made me feel. 

My mother sent me to foster care when I was 10, my dad having left before I had a chance to even remember his face outside of old photos; and I truly believe that my mother only waited until I was 10 because she couldn’t find someone to take me sooner.

I also have no siblings because my parents, after seeing me, didn’t want to have any more hideous children. My parents are perfect in every way, and to produce a child like me? They believed they were cursed. 

To look good and to have ugly children. The ultimate conundrum to them.

So, my mother got her uterus removed, and I'm sure her sperm donor cot a vasectomy.

And that’s just my family. 

I’ve never had a boyfriend, never even held hands romantically with someone. My friends only existed in my mind or online, but despite it all, I did my best to be happy.

Now, my entire childhood wasn’t all bad. Foster care, for me, was definitely a step up from my home life. 

I ended up being placed with an older couple when I was a teenager, and they became my parents. They loved me; they protected me.

Until they no longer could.

I lost them when I turned 20, like it was a welcome party to the official end of my teens. 

And that was the final straw to a shitty 20 years. All because of a fucking birthmark taking up half of my face. 

--------

The song birds sang, and the trees swayed in the breeze. The smell of the river filled the air, and everything was so serene with the sun high above, without a cloud in the sky to shade it’s heat.

And, as I sat on the rusty, metallic guardrail of an old, abandoned train bridge, my legs dangled off the side; the water below being at least 100 feet down. I couldn’t hear it from that far up, but I knew the waters were rough; violent as it crashed against rocks and fallen logs, despite its beauty.

I gulped. I was terrified, but at the same time, I was ready for it all to end. My mind was racing- I didn’t really want to die, but at the same time, I couldn’t bear to hear another negative thing about me, another assault, another person telling me I should’ve died a long time ago.

I never chose to look this way, I was born this way, and for some reason, no one wanted to accept that. 

No one.

My chest rose and lowered as I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself, but just the idea of the fall kept my heart pounding, and I pulled my phone out of my dark blue jean’s pocket. 

If something would make me follow through with the rest of my plan, it would be reading the numerous things people had to say about me.

Don’t talk to me again, you ugly bitch.

Why didn’t your mother swallow you?

You aren’t loved, that’s why you don’t have anyone to call family.

Who do you think I am to you? A friend? Leave me alone you fucking vomit stain.

I couldn’t help but giggle as a tear fell from one of my eyes, running down my cheek until it soaked into the denim covering my thigh. “Fuck these people,” I whimpered, quickly stuffing my phone back into my pocket before I wiggled myself closer to the edge of the already tiny railing. “Not everyone is born perfect, why can’t they just accept that?” I continued, fighting back a full on break down. “No, instead, they wanted to pretend I wasn’t a person too.”

Fuck it, I thought to myself. At least reading the comments on my pictures and the texts people have sent me helped in my decision.

My dainty hands grabbed the nasty railing as I began to maneuver myself over the edge into a standing position, though twisting myself around until I was facing the railroad instead of the beautiful scenery as I stood there. I was gripping the metal with such force that my already white hands were turning paler. 

“If I’m going to do this, I need to do it now, otherwise I’ll probably never do it.” I closed my green eyes, my long, brunette hair was dancing in the wind as my cheeks started to turn a light shade of pink from the chilliness; my brown hoodie failing to keep me warm enough.

I began to count to try and encourage myself to finally let go.

One... It’s time to let go...

Two... I’m down to holding on by just my finger tips...

Thr-

“Excuse me!” I heard a faint, man’s voice call out, interrupting my train of thought.

Is he talking to me? I thought to myself, as I quickly regripped the railing with a strangling grip while opening my eyes to look around, trying to find where the voice had come from. 

There was nothing but woods around the bridge, the only opening being around the tracks. It must have been my imagination. 

As I looked back down at the river below, I heard the voice again, but a bit clearer, “Miss?” But there was still no one around.

“Hello?” I finally replied; if someone was out there, they’d answer, right? But when I waited a moment, and no one replied, I concluded it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. After all, I had to be crazy to be standing above instant death- hearing voices wouldn’t have been too much of a shock.

Though, once more, the moment I turned back around, I heard the voice again, and once again closer to me- by now my arms were getting beyond tired, and my grip was loosening once more; but I figured it’d just make things easier on me, so I tried not to panic too much.

“I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to be here.” The man was calm, but it was obvious he was real, and was talking to me.

“What do you want?” I snapped, “I’m a bit busy here, if you haven’t noticed.” I still couldn’t see him, but his words were clear as day, and my people-pleasing self felt obligated to answer.

There was a slight pause, “I’ve noticed, but, at least walk on this side of the railing if you’re going to trespass.”

I couldn’t help but let out an exaggerated, short burst of laughter. I began to look towards where his voice was coming from, “Trespass? I’m wanting to jum-” but I was quickly cut off when I came face to face with the man himself, seemingly within the time it took to blink; He was already mere inches from me.

I couldn’t help myself; I screamed out in sheer terror, causing myself to lose my grip upon the rusty railing completely.

My heart sank as my body instantly registered that I was falling; an uncomfortable tickle forming in the pit of my stomach..

I realized I didn’t want to die- not yet, but it was too late, I was already falling. I closed my eyes to make the descent easier, but within an instance, I felt my body come to an abrupt halt. 

Did I die already? I thought to myself, as I carefully opened my eyes, one by one.

But instead of some type of angel or god, I was face to face with the mysterious man that had emerged from the woods just a moment ago.

And he was wearing nothing but a pair of ripped blue jeans, tennis shoes, and what looked like the remnants of a shirt that was torn from his body. Seeing him made me second guess the idea of me being dead; he was godly. 

I felt a few fingers move slightly around my waist, when I realized he had wrapped his arms around my body to catch me before I fell to my death; I instantly screamed out in terror once more when I peeked behind me. 

“You can’t be here, you’re trespassing,” the man said again, letting out a soft chuckle as he pulled me back over the railing. “Let me walk you back to your car?” He continued, pretending I didn’t just nearly die, while only letting me go when he knew I was steady on my feet.

“Who are you?” I questioned him, quickly backing up a few steps. I couldn’t understand why a man such as he, every muscle defined, his jaw chiseled and outlined by a groomed stubble, his black hair slightly spiked, with the most beautiful blue eyes, wanted to save someone like me, let alone look at me as long as he was without puking.

“Virgo Dacien; and who might you be, beautiful?” He smiled at me, unfazed by my hideous face.

“Aren’t you sickened by me? I’m ugly, and I was trying to free the world of myself until you rudely interrupted me,” I demanded, ignoring his desire for my name.

“Sickened? Far from it, if I may say, you’re quite beautiful; so ugly isn’t a fair name.” His warm smile hadn’t faltered in the slightest, and I began to believe he was genuine.

“Katherine Cain,” I admitted, lowering my voice as I lowered my head; staring at the ground in defeat. “Why did you have to save me?”

“I didn’t have to...” he began, closing the couple foot gap between us in order to lift my head back up gently using one of his soft hands. “I wanted to.”

Why is his touch so hot…so comforting?