Starless Ceiling

I stared at the ceiling, waiting.

The bulb above was dirty, and the paint around it was peeling. I have always wanted to place glow-in-the-dark stars to cover the spots, but Mother said those were too pricey for us to get for ourselves.

“When you get married, love, you can have all the stars you want,” she cooed, as she brushed my long hair in front of the mirror, the only one we had. I remember thinking that the crack in the glass reflected in her eyes, until a few teardrops fell down her cheeks.

Light came in through the open windows as I heard the sound of cars parking nearby. The familiar grating voices of three, four, five people I did not wish to see soon echoed in my ears. I held the one doll I owned tightly in my arms.

The door opened, and nervous footsteps made their way towards the bed. There was a weight on my bed, and soon, I felt my mother’s arms around me.

“I’m sorry, love,” she whispered in my ear, in a voice that sounded like she had been crying. “I tried my best to protect you and prevent you from this fate.”

I resolutely stared at the starless ceiling as I heard the steady footsteps of three, four, five people enter my room. My mother got up and started yelling, pleading. “Please, there has to be another way! Take me instead, not my only daughter. Please!”

The room vibrated as a loud slap echoed in my room, and not a word was heard from my mother after that.

Four pairs of hands quickly removed my clothes. No one seemed embarrassed to see a naked 14-year-old, but then again, I did not look into their faces and opted to keep staring intently at the peeling paint above.

They quickly dressed me in the white wedding clothes, and when they were finished, a man in black hovered above me. He looked old, older than my mother, with wrinkles all over his face and a grin showing off his rotten teeth. He licked his lips and winked at me. I shuddered and held my doll tighter.

He laughed and tugged it free from my arms. “You wouldn’t need this bunch of rags to embrace anymore once we’re married, my sweet.” I trembled as I continued staring at the ceiling I knew so well. “I’ll see you later.”

His laughter rang in my ears as they all left the room. When the door closed, I got up to see that they took my mother and my doll with them, too.

Tears poured from my eyes as I lay down once more and continued to stare at the ceiling, waiting.

–
Image source: deviantart.com/prudentia/art/Paint-Peeling-Ceiling-Stock-2-132146717
First written January 11, 2018.
#102