16 Khalid

16

Khalid

“Do you really want to know, Valeria?”

She nodded, her soft face peering up at me as I moved back to remove my tee shirt. I had never told anyone about it. Not a single soul, but I wanted to let her know. Even though it meant becoming awfully vulnerable.

I wanted to let Valeria know about the scars on my back.

Taking a deep breath, I turned, showing her my back. “The reason I didn’t want to join you in the lake is because of my back. I… I never remove my shirt because of it.”

“Okay,” she said, sitting up and waiting for me to continue.

“Touch my back, Valeria,” I whispered, my voice hoarse.

I clenched my jaw when I felt the soft pads of her fingers on my back. I tried not to recoil as her gentle hands moved around, freezing when they met the bumpy and scratchy skin.

I tensed, feeling both of her hands on my back.

Valeria gasped, “Khalid…”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Who… why, what… who did this to you?”

“My father,” I said, my shoulders feeling heavy. “Everyo