Self Care A Novels & Stories

"You'd better not trouble me any more than this." "Let me carry them." Diego snatched the shoes from Caraline's hands, carrying them. "I've never understood why women often put themselves through so much trouble just for the sake of appearances?" Caraline rolled her eyes. "Men's thin brains will never understand that." "Wow." Diego chuckled. "That's spicy." "Every woman has her sparkle and charm. For that reason, self-care and makeup are key skills to have to make a woman shine." "Even if it's... self-harm?" probed Diego with a faint smile.

He was blinking so hard his eyelids could’ve passed for malfunctioning windshield wipers. Honestly, I wasn’t even angry anymore. Watching his internal operating system crash in real-time was almost... therapeutic. It’s not often you get to dismantle misogyny and boost your endorphins before third period. Self-care, really. If retail therapy wasn’t on the table, I’d take verbal annihilation any day.

“You get better at surviving it. And better at letting your body come back down after.” “How?” The word scraped out. “You make rituals.” She worked the shampoo through, careful around a tender spot at my crown. “You wash. You feed the fire. You drink something warm. You touch what’s yours—your bed, your blanket, a comb your mother used, a ring, anything that says ‘I am here, I remain.’ And you let someone see you, if they are safe.” Safe. The word throbbed like a bruise and a balm all at once.

And that’s the problem. A text notification buzzes, and I grab my phone again. It’s from Mariah. Mariah: Rise and shine! Self-care day, baby! Be ready in 30. 💅💇‍♀️ Self-care day? I groan, burying my face in the pillow. Me: I don’t feel like going anywhere. Almost immediately, she replies: Mariah: Too bad. You need this, Jess. Don’t make me come drag you out of bed.

“You’ve been running on nothing for days. When was the last time you actually rested?” “I’ll rest when Alaric is home.” “That’s two months away.” “Then I’ll rest in two months.” I looked back out at the empty fields. “Erica, I know you’re worried. But I don’t have room for self-care right now.” “Self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s maintenance.” She shifted closer. “I’m worried about you. Everyone is. You keep pushing like this, and when you finally break, it’s going to be bad.”

“Not completely.” “Trust is not required for healing,” Maera replied. “Presence is.” I rubbed my arms, suddenly very aware of phantom touches. Of heat. Of how alive I felt when they were near. “And if I don’t?” I asked. “Then you heal slower,” she said honestly. “And remain vulnerable.” Silence fell between us again. Finally, I straightened my spine. “Then I’ll train.” Maera nodded. “Good.” She handed me a small pouch containing some herbs. “This will help cleanse your system. Drink them nightly.”

Cassia asked, looking confused. Quinn nodded. "Take a good look at yourself. Are you the same Cassia you’ve always known? No. You’re overthinking, stressing out, and getting caught up in unnecessary drama. What you need to do is focus on yourself, be a little selfish. Prioritize your health, your career, and most importantly, your peace of mind." Kiara nodded in agreement. "She’s right. Neither of them is going anywhere. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. But for now, just breathe."

"So insecure you can't stand seeing others shine. Fighting over men, getting jealous over dresses. Were you starved for attention as a child?" Sheena snapped. She grabbed my arm and slapped me hard. When I recovered from the shock, I slapped her back with all my strength. The slap echoed in the restroom, and Sheena's stunned expression was priceless. Then, she glanced behind me before suddenly turning on the faucet and splashing water on herself, messing up her hair too. Before I could process what was happening, Caleb appeared, demanding, "Harper, what did you do to Sheena?" "Caleb, Harper hit me and threw water on me!" Sheena wailed. "You have to do something!"

I tried to explain that Carl was mistaken, but they would not listen. [Don't make my friend sick, okay?] [Just get lost!] More and more people were telling me to stay away from the music festival, or I would be sorry. I was so mad I deleted the app. After a long day of studying, I went back to my dorm to relax. I opened the door and was hit by a terrible stink. Trash was everywhere, and I could not even find a place to step that was uncovered. I looked up and was shocked. Sadie was sitting at her desk without any clothes on, doing her makeup.

My phone buzzed and I walked back to my bed to check it. REMINDER: SELF-CARE DATE. "Oh God, I'm late." I muttered under my breath, rushing out of the room. I had a self care appointment today with Nora. Yes, my chef Nora. She was my plus one for the vacation! I was so excited already. I got to talk to Nora and turns out, she actually has a lot going for her as a twenty three year old.