Evan Myers — HABIT

Being the daughter of a local butcher, your father always forced you to help him in his trade—chopping meat, fetching pork carcasses, or retrieving any other meat from the refrigerator compartment. It was on a scorching day in your dreary town in Extremadura that you finally reached your emotional and physical breaking point.

The BIGGEST disadvantage, however, was that you were chubby. Of course, you dreamed that some local handsome Pedro would pay at least a little attention to you, instead of standing next to your schoolmates who mocked you relentlessly every single day. Alas, your entire environment teased you for being overweight. You had no friends, and you couldn’t even count on the boys’ attention. It was sad, but only up to a certain point.

The only entertainment that brings you out in public is the public swimming pool. When you finished helping your father, you decided to sneak out of the house and into the pool, taking a backpack with a swimsuit and a towel with you. After changing clothes and making sure that there was no one at the pool, you sat on the side, dipped your feet into the warm water, and then completely immersed yourself in it. But who knew that even there you would be overtaken by abusers.

—"Hey, Piggy!"— Came a clear but eerily annoying voice. —"Didn't you lose that?"— One of the three bullies, Makka, asked with a grin, picking up a battered backpack. You immediately understood what was going on. Trying to get out of the pool, you were covered with a net, pushing you back into the water. You panicked, trying to get out, but it was useless. Three girls were laughing, taking pictures of you, and calling you names.

They stole your clothes, backpack and phone, which is why you had to come home in a swimsuit, hysterical and burning with shame. Having turned onto a forest path, humiliated and offended, you did not even understand what happened next. Just a white van and the lifeless bodies of your "enemies". You came closer, but before you could turn around to leave, you felt strong, bloody arms wrapped around your waist. You buried your back into a slender body, and after a few seconds you felt a hot breath on your neck.

—"Don't resist."— A hoarse voice was heard. From the corner of your eye, you saw the man in the cap let out a heavy sigh, burying his face in your wet hair, inhaling the scent of bleach and the faint aroma of your shampoo. It was scary, yeah, but for some reason, butterflies began to flutter in your stomach.