I don't need fixing

Kian

Da hit me pretty hard last night. So hard that I was still on the kitchen floor when the sun rose at 6:30.

There was no way I could go into work today.

I hated to disappoint Joey. I really did.

Especially with him being my girlfriend's dad.

But I couldn't have him seeing me like this.

Have anyone seeing me like this.

I didn't need their pity.

I didn't want their pity.

I dragged myself up from the cold tiles, every muscle in my body aching like hell. My ribs throbbed, my jaw felt tight, and when I touched my lip, I winced at the sting. It was split-figures.

Stumbling to the sink, I turned the tap on and let the freezing water run over my fingers before splashing some onto my face. It did nothing to clear the haze in my head. My reflection in the small, cracked mirror above the sink made me grimace. My eye was swollen, the bruising already starting to bloom across my cheekbone.

Joey would notice in a heartbeat. He wasn't stupid, and he knew enough about my da to put two and two together. I didn't need that conversation, not today.

I grabbed my phone off the counter, squinting at the bright screen. A few texts from Mal, asking what time I was heading to the garage. One from Dean about some party. And one from Joey.

Joey: You on for today, kid?

I stared at it for a second before typing out a reply.

Me: Not feeling great. Think I'm gonna skip today.

It wasn't a lie. I felt like shit, just not for the reason he'd assume.

His reply was instant.

Joey: Alright. Rest up. Let me know if you need anything.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. He didn't need to be good to me. He didn't have to give a shit, but he did. And maybe that made it worse.

Because I didn't know what to do with people who cared.

I tossed my phone onto the counter and ran a hand through my hair, wincing when my fingers grazed the tender spot at the back of my head. I needed to clean up before Mam saw me. Before Emi came home and started asking questions I didn't have the answers to.

Before Mal saw me and looked at me like she did that night in my room-like she wanted to fix me.

I didn't need fixing.

I just needed to make it through the day.