The Hidden Scar

11

I didn't sleep at all after midnight.

Every night after that, I would put a knife under my pillow, ready to throw caution to the wind at any time.

Whenever I thought of this thick, dark time, I realized that the greatest damage it had left on me was not physical, but mental.

It was as if someone was cutting your soul with a knife, making you scared of the closed door and too insecure to sleep every night.

But you could not tell, because the pain in your soul was invisible to outsiders.

They would only say lightly, "It's nothing. Why are you talking about this? Shame on you."

I had no choice but to study hard.

It was the only way to leave Levin and this family.

I boned up on my study. I was assiduous and diligent like holding on to my life-saving straw.

Reed teased, "Sherlyn Shaw, are you going to become a master of learning? It looks like you'll destroy whoever stops you from learning."

I rolled my eyes and said, "Why don't you lend me your brain?"