F O U R

The ride back home was silent.

Mia was screaming in the inside and she could barely hear anything but her heartbeat.

The tight knot in her stomach was not leaving, and each moment the car made a turn she felt like vomiting.

She felt irritated that her mother was driving,she was a rough driver - making sharp turns and occasionally breaking with no reason.

She tried focussing on her breathing... counting each breath... chanting 'hamsa.'

When the car got on the private road, her breathing quickened... and she sat up.

Her palms were all sweaty and blaming the sun, she moved away from the window.

"Are you okay?" Her father asked from the front seat.

Mia wanted to cry out and shout no. But her tongue still hurt, and she wasn't willing to stay still for almost an hour 'calming it down.'

She stared at her dad desperately and nodded.

She was to go in for an operation later in the future if she wished.

The doctor said it was just a piece at the side,meant to taste sour things and she could do without it.

The car was making her swing, and she moved back to the window to lean on the glass.

That wasn't the only reason however, the other reason being the rear view mirror.

Mia stared outside the posh houses as their car moved past.

Children were playing with water guns on a house lawn. So happy.

Mia muffled a cry when the car came to a halt. She was going back in there.

She sniffed and regretted it almost immediately. Her throat hurt, and the tongue's throbbing pain settled in.

Her dad got out first.

"Next time don't try a painful death." Her mother spoke.

I wasn't commuting suicide!'

Mia screamed for the billionth time in her head. At a point she almost believed that she was commuting suicide, after all it was her image.

Never have I ever thought of it!

"Not that I want you dead so don't." Her mother added fake coughing.

She was one of the tough girls in her childhood, good at masking their emotions and intentions.

And it made it so hard for her to admit to Mia that she cared, that those words meant to toughen her up as well. It hurt her just as much seeing her daughter in pain.

But Mia was different, she wanted the love her mother so much withheld and it killed her softly each passing day.

Mia's dad opened the door for her. She sighed and picked the black bag with purple stripes that her mother had earlier on packed her clothing and other items.

Mia stepped out and almost fell. Luckily her dad was their to hold her.

She wasn't nauseated.

She was scared.

Scared so much of going back in there that her limbs gave in.

"Are you alright?"

"She's not been eating well." Her mother replied getting out.

"You'll be fine honey." Her dad whispered steadying her up.

She walked with the help of her dad into the house.

Her torturous and painful screams of the previous week flooded her mind.

She fell on the seat and covered her ears. But it couldn't stop.

The more she tried,the louder they came.

Tears fell down her eyes freely and her parents stared unaware of what to do.

Two servants rushed to the scene.

"Dad!Help me!' Mia screamed unable to hold it anymore.

It only took a second for the pain to flood in.

Mrs. Growscow walked to the drink area and poured herself a shot.

With trembling hands, she took it.

Mia released another scream due to the pain of ruptured tissues, only making it worse.

Mrs. Growscow cursed and looked up dabbing her eyes. No, she would not cry.

Her dad hugged her, whispering for her to stop screaming, whispering that it will be okay.

"What are you staring at!Go get her milk or something!" Mrs. Growscow odered Napoli and Sara - the cooks.

Mia calmed down and pressed her lips together.

Daddy it hurts.

Doesn't it hurt to be human?

She finally stopped and the pain vanished, like it was never there.

"Try not to talk or you'll stretch your wounds,okay?" Her mother told her masking it with 'I don't care.'

Mia however nodded.

She drank the milk handed to her slowly, dreading every sip.

But it was okay.

"We should call a doctor." Her father told her mom loosening his tie.

"What for?"Annah asked taking a sip off her drink.

"To watch her over at night!"

"You do whatever."

Her husband shook his head and got out his phone making a few calls.

He walked back to Mia and sat down beside her.

Napoli came back with a silverware tea setting.

Mia didn't realize it until the image smiled at her. But this time she was imagining it.

Not the silver, not her reflection. She turned her head away.

"I found a nurse,she'll be spending the night with you,okay?"He informed her.

Mia nodded. It was a relief. She dreaded that room, that mirror