Concrete Angel

She had her eyes turned down to look at the sidewalk, as though it were something remotely interesting. Those eyes used to sparkle a gentle blue when she was happy, but they had not had experienced happiness in a long while. Now, the color was simply a dull blue-gray. Her many school books were under one slim arm and her insulated lunch sack was grasped in her free hand. Though this could be perceived as a quite common sight, a girl on her way to school, it was actually quite unusual. Kagome walked along quietly, which instantly made something seem a bit out of place.

*She walks to school with the lunch she packed*

The other students she had attended classes with always remembered her as cheerful and friendly, but lately something was wrong. There were many dark secrets that she was hiding from them and no one knew exactly what they were. However, some thought they might have an idea from the purple and yellow bruises that ran up and down her arms and legs.

*Nobody knows what she’s holdin’ back*

Her school uniform was highly wrinkled and torn; there were small splotches of what appeared to be dried blood as well. This was very unlike her normally tidy and pristine appearance. She looked exhausted and like she had slept in her green skirt and blouse.

*Wearin’ the same dress she wore yesterday*

Although it was late August, humid, and they had just come back from summer vacation, she wore the long sleeve version of her top. Her sleeves were trying to hide something, something that had occurred during the summer. But normally, when you hide something, no one is supposed to know. But everyone knew it.

*She hides the bruises with linen and lace*

In her regular homeroom class, her teacher was mystified. This was definitely a different Kagome Higurashi from last school year. Could a person change this much in one summer? It seemed impossible, but this Kagome one did not smile or laugh like the other.

*The teacher wonders but she doesn’t ask*

Kagome simply reassured her teacher that she was fine, just something on her mind. Her vacation had been demanding and left her with many things to think about. Leaving it at that, she faked a nice, convincing smile before leaving the classroom.

*It’s hard to see the pain behind the mask*

She did the same to everyone else the rest of the day, fake smile, reassurance. The saddest part was it worked. No one had the time to busy themselves with someone else’s problems nowadays.

*Bearing the burden of a secret storm*

But deep inside, where no one would see, she was miserable, dreading to return home. She was afraid of what, no, who might be waiting there for her, waiting to take her back into her personal hell.

*Sometimes she wishes she was never born*