HER LONLINESS..

Chapter # 2

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Dawn arrived like a punishment.

Pale, cruel sunlight crawled through the cracked window and cut across her face.

Elif's eyes fluttered open.

Agony greeted her before her own thoughts did.

She was on the floor.

Cold concrete beneath her.

No blanket.

No bed.

Because monsters don't let their daughters sleep like humans.

With shaking fingers, she pushed her broken body up.

Every inch of her back was screaming.

Every bruise was singing a song of last night.

She moved like a ghost toward the bathroom.

Bare feet.

Silent steps.

Holding her breath so the pain wouldn't spill out.

The water from the shower was ice.

The second it hit her skin,

It felt like acid pouring over open wounds.

Fire.

Stinging.

Burning.

She clamped her jaw shut.

Bit down on her lip until copper filled her mouth.

But not one sound escaped her throat.

No one was listening anyway.

When it was over, she stood in front of the fogged mirror.

Her school uniform trembled in her hands.

And then she saw herself.

Purple bruises bloomed across her arms like rotten flowers.

Thick, angry welts carved lines down her back.

Her reflection looked like a painting made of pain.

Her chest ached.

Tears filled her eyes, hot and humiliating.

But she swallowed them.

Pain is normal.

Tears don't fix anything.

She exhaled a shaky breath and let it go.

She dressed carefully.

Long sleeves to cover the graves on her arms.

A high collar to hide the scars on her neck.

A mask to hide the girl underneath.

The kitchen was empty.

No food.

No warmth.

No "good morning".

Her stomach twisted, but hunger was easier than facing that house.

At the door, she paused.

Her father's room.

The door shut.

Silence inside.

He was sleeping like an angel.

Like he hadn't tried to break her last night.

For three heartbeats, Elif just stared.

Then she turned.

And walked away.

Outside, the world was loud.

But Elif was silent.

She had always been quiet.

Too quiet.

Which is why she had no friends.

And why she never wanted any.

Friends notice.

Friends ask.

Friends pity.

And pity was worse than the pipe.

So she lowered her head.

She buried her pain deep.

And she walked to school alone...

Wearing a fake smile,

and carrying a storm no one would ever see.

The school gate felt louder than her house.

Laughter.

Chatter.

The smell of perfume and new notebooks.

Elif slipped inside quietly.

She didn't greet anyone.

No one greeted her either.

She walked straight to the last bench.

The corner seat.

Where no one sits.

Where no one looks.

It was safe there.

Around her, the class was alive.

Girls were giggling, showing each other pictures of new bags and shoes.

"Did you see my new iPhone?"

"I went shopping with my mom yesterday."

Their voices were bright.

Their lives were bright.

Elif didn't belong in that light.

So she turned to the window.

And got lost.

...Elif didn't belong in that light.

So she turned to the window.

And got lost.

Outside, the school courtyard was full.

And then she saw him.

Adrian Vale.

Her senior.

The most handsome boy in the entire school.

Tall.

Broad shoulders that made the school uniform look expensive.

Light brown hair that fell perfectly over his forehead, like it was touched by the sun.

Dark green eyes that were sharp and cold, like glass.

A sharp jawline.

A beautiful smile... with one dimple on his left cheek that drove every girl crazy.

He was the kind of boy people fell in love with at first sight.

And clinging to his arm, like she always did...

was his girlfriend.

Annoying.

Clingy.

Arrogant.

The kind of girl who laughed too loud and owned every room she walked into.

They looked perfect together.

Like they were born with money and raised in the spotlight.

Like a magazine cover.

Elif let out a silent sigh and rolled her eyes.

Her eyes dropped to her desk.

Of course he has someone.

Guys like Adrian Vale don't look at ghosts like me.

He's too bright. Too perfect. Too rude to even notice someone like me exists

To like me? That's a joke. She starts scratching the rough surface of the desk with her nails like it's the only and important work to do.

She looked again at Adrian side where he smile with ayla (his girlfriend)

She knew her place.

Broken girls don't get boys like Adrian.

They get bruises and silence.

She pulled her gaze back inside the classroom.

Back to the cracked wood of her desk.

Back to pretending she was okay.

The bell rang.

The teacher walked in.

And just like that, Elif became invisible again.

She opened her textbook.

Lowered her head.

And pretended to be normal.

While she is not.

The classes ended like a relief now the only class left after lunch time.

Elif's stomach was twisting.

Hunger.

Sharp.

Because she hadn't eaten anything since morning.

She walked to the canteen alone.

Bought the cheapest thing she could find.

A small pack of french fries.

She found an empty table in the corner.

Away from noise.

Away from people.

Safe.

She was eating quietly, head down,

when the entire canteen went silent for 2 seconds.

And then loud again.

She didn't need to look up to know who it was.

Adrian Vale.

His footsteps were confident.

His voice was low when he talked.

Girls giggled.

The boys moved aside.

And beside him, like glue...Ayla his girlfriend.

Elif took one glance.

Just one.

Adrian looked unfairly perfect, even in a messy school uniform.

Light brown hair.

Dark green eyes scanning the canteen like he owned it.

That dimple flashing when he smirked at something.

And Ayla?

Clinging to his arm, nails painted pink lips painted red.

Smiling like the world owed her something.

Elif's mouth went bitter.

He couldn't find a better girl?

This arrogant, loud, attention-seeking girl?

But then she laughed at herself inside.

Why do I even care?

It's his life. Not mine.

She looked down and forced herself to eat the cold fries.

Two tables away, Ayla slid into the seat next to Adrian.

She grabbed his hand and shoved her nails in his face.

"Baby, look! I got my nails done. Aren't they pretty?"

Adrian didn't even look up from his phone.

"Yeah. Fine. They're nice."

Ayla beamed anyway.

"Aw, baby I love you sooo much!"

She leaned over and hugged him tight.

Adrien just patted her back once.

"Love you too."

Then he went right back to scrolling.

No warmth.

No eye contact.

Just a habit.

Elif watched for half a second too long.

Her chest felt heavy.

“What a rude guy he is,” she muttered and looked away. She finished her fries.

Crumpled the pack and stood up. Threw the trash and walked out of the canteen.

Alone like always. She sighs and goes to the other class.

--

The front door clicked open.

"I'm home," Elif called softly, slipping off her shoes before stepping into the living room.

The television was playing quietly in the background. Her father sat comfortably on the couch, his eyes fixed on the screen. At the sound of her voice, he turned around and offered her a warm smile.

"You're home." He muted the TV. "How was school, sweetheart? Did you eat anything? If not, I can make you something."

Elif looked at him for a long moment before forcing a faint smile.

"I'm fine, Dad. I already ate. You should eat something instead."

He nodded with another gentle smile, and she walked away without another word.

She was exhausted by this act.

Every single time the alcohol left his system, he transformed into the picture of a caring father—as if he had always worried about her, as if he had never abandoned her when she needed him the most.

But Elif remembered everything.

The lonely nights.

The empty refrigerator.

The unpaid bills.

The countless times she had waited for him while he stumbled home drunk, unable to recognize the daughter who had spent years trying to hold their broken lives together.

His concern always came too late.

She entered her small bedroom and tossed her school bag onto the bed before letting herself fall beside it. Her eyes remained fixed on the white ceiling above her.

What a boring life...

School.

Home.

Work.

Then repeat it all over again.

There was nothing exciting about her days.

No friends to spend time with.

No family dinners.

No dreams she could afford to chase.

Elif worked part-time at a neighborhood bakery just to keep food on the table and pay their bills. Meanwhile, her father continued his endless routine of "looking for a job" every morning, only to return late at night completely drunk.

Nothing ever changed.

After lying there for several quiet minutes, Elif finally pushed herself off the bed. She changed into her work clothes, tied her hair into a neat ponytail, grabbed her bag, and headed for the bakery.

The sweet scent of freshly baked bread welcomed her the moment she stepped inside.

One thing she genuinely liked about this place was its owner.

Jessica.

She was cheerful, kind-hearted, and one of the few people who treated Elif with genuine warmth. Over the months, they had grown surprisingly close.

"Hi, Miss Jessica," Elif greeted with a small smile as she walked behind the counter.

Jessica looked up immediately, her face lighting up.

"Oh, hi, honey! How are you doing?" she asked warmly.

"I'm doing well. How about you?" Elif replied as she set her bag aside.

Jessica chuckled.

"I'm doing much better now that you're here."

That earned a real smile from Elif.

"There are so many customers today," Jessica said, glancing toward the growing line near the entrance. "We'll have to move quickly, honey."

Elif rolled up her sleeves and nodded.

"Absolutely. It looks much busier than usual today."

Without wasting another second, both of them got to work, serving customers as the bakery buzzed with life, the comforting aroma of warm bread and pastries filling every corner of the little shop.