Battered, Not Broken

Her mother had been on the phone constantly since Uncle Gareth landed in the hospital for a second time. This come-back tour hadn't been going as well as hoped, leaving the woman distracted and a little stressed. Adjusting the hood of her jacket and a pair of newly-bought sunglasses, Faith took a minute to watch her mother pace worriedly back and forth beside the tour bus, then tried to slip into the vehicle unnoticed.

The woman's hand shot out and grabbed her, just as the girl brushed past. Faith winced at the pain on her arm from the pressure on a hidden bruise.

"Where d'ya think you're going, young lady? You've been avoiding me all day. Now what is going on?" Her mother asked as she hung up her cel. She looked her daughter up and down. "What's with the get-up? You're not famous enough to be ducking from the paparazzi now, are ya?" A tiny smirk tickled at the corner of the woman's mouth, amused at her own joke, before disappearing again in a mother's worried frown.

Sighing, Faith reluctantly removed her sunglasses and lowered her hood. A trail of bruises lined one side of her face.

"I'm fine, Ma," the girl growled, before her mother could utter a word of panic. "Some bastard kid tried to mug me this morning, that's all."

To Faith's surprise, her mother said nothing as her hand gently reached up and turned the girl's head to take a closer look at the bruises. But Faith could see the worry screaming in her mother's eyes.

"You're... not mad, Ma?"

Her mother shrugged, still looking at the injuries. "It's not your fault, love. These things happen. More often than they should with government incompetence, but they happen." She sighed, "I'm just glad you're okay. I..." Her voice began to shake, as tears formed in the corners of her eyes.

Faith frowned with concern. "Ma? Are you okay?"

"Yeah," the woman wiped her eyes, and tried to smile. The crack in her voice betrayed her feelings. "Just the thought of losing anyone else... again... especially you..."

The girl hid her annoyance and put on her best, comforting smile. Admittedly, it had been a frightening experience, but except for the bruises she really was completely fine. Her attacker had it worse with the broken nose she had given him. Faith had only hidden her injuries, so she wouldn't worry her mother.

"It's okay, Ma. I'm okay." She wrapped her arms around her mother and cringed as a shot of pain erupted up from the bruises on her back when the woman returned the hug. "I'm alright, Ma. I'm right here."

"I know, love. I know," her mother whispered, as if it were a struggle to speak.

Faith held her breath, hoping her mother wouldn't hold her any tighter.