Demolition Before the Bloom

the woman staring back at me.

My hair was tangled with dirt and sweat.

My left eye was already swelling shut, turning a nasty, bruised shade of purple.

A deep, jagged cut sat right above my eyebrow.

Fresh blood was still weeping from the wound, tracing a hot path down my cheek.

Maya sat down on the cold marble floor.

She pulled her knees to her chest and continue reading …