Girl, You Have Lipstick on Your Teeth!

Chapter 1

MAC: Ruby Woo

“You know that crap makes you look like a clown” I look up and slam my mirror compact closed. He stared at me with pure disgust. After 30 seconds he looked away and murmured something under his breath.

I continued to look and his breathing was erratic. My eyes stung as I tried my hardest to keep my eyelids open and not let the tears drop. I cleared my throat and looked down at the floor. Why is he like this? Was it because my eyes lit up as I gazed at my reflection? Was I smiling again? Maybe it was a combination of all those things. I grab a napkin quickly. I vigorously rub the lipstick off of my lips. A bright red smudge appears on the white napkin. I rub so hard until my lips feel raw.

“How did everything come out?” I look up at the server whose crimson lips formed into a smile.

“Everything is great!” His smile was showing the molars in the back of his mouth. His eyes light up at the sight of her. I sink down in the booth. Would anyone notice if I got under the table right now? Maybe he wouldn’t notice. He wouldn’t even care. Maybe I should just offer her my seat since he seems more interested in her.

“I’m going to the restroom.” He snaps out of the gaze from the server and turns to me. “What? Speak up!” He barks at me. The outburst startles the server.

“ I said, can I go to the restroom?” I look down at the floor.

“Yes you may.” I sat up in the booth. I slowly look up at the server. She tries to avoid eye contact. “Where’s your restroom?” She points to the corner of the restaurant. I walk over to the restroom trying to avoid eye contact as I pass by couples and families enjoying their meals together. I push the open the restroom door but it flies open. I made eye contact with her. Big, brown, almond shaped eyes stare back at me. Her curly jet black curls perfectly form the bangs that cover arched eyebrows.

“You first.” As she smiled showing the whitest teeth I ever saw. Her lips looked like they were dipped in melted dark chocolate.

“Thank you.” I smiled as I looked towards the floor. I pass by her and smell the sweetest scent. It reminded me of a floral coconut. She smelled like a Hawaiian vacation. I felt like someone had put a Lei of flowers over my head.

Who was she?

I walked into the nearest bathroom stall and slammed the door shut. I braced myself as chucks on enchilada, rice, and beans landed into the toilet bowl. I gag until nothing else comes up. I grabbed a wad of toilet paper and wiped my mouth. I stand up and use my foot to flush the toilet. I leave the stall and walk over to the sink. I looked into the mirror and stared at my reflection. The first thing I noticed was my lips. They still had the faint tint of red. The lipstick rested in the cracks on my lips. Dry skin flakes scattered on my lips. My hair was braided in two French braids that Bobby pinned to the back of my head. I look down to his oversized blue sweater with a faded radio station logo on the front of it. I look back down to my hands. I couldn’t stand the sight of myself. I scoot into the booth.

“What took you so long?” he snarled at me. He was putting his credit card away in his wallet.

“There was a line. “ I managed to say. He looked at me in disbelief and smacked his lips.

“All done with that.” The server reached over and grabbed the receipt from him.

“Oh yes, I am. “ he chuckled as he handed the receipt to her. She looked at the receipt and her eyes were wide open.

“That is a very generous tip, thank you sir.” She smiled.

“Anything for a beautiful woman.” He winked at her. She cleared her throat and nervously looked in my direction. I was looking down at my shoes, I could see the rubber lifting from the sole.

“Have a great night.” She walked over to the table across the room.

“Hurry up, let’s go.” He snapped at me. I stood to my feet and noticed the table the server was at. There she was. The beautiful woman from the restroom. She was laughing at something the other woman at the table said. She nodded towards the server. Then she sees me. We make eye contact and she flashes a smile in my direction.

“I said hurry up.” He raises his voice this time. I look away from her and make my way towards the exit.

The car ride was quiet. He didn’t even turn the radio on. I sit there staring out of the window.

“What are you thinking about?” His voice was softer now.

I sigh, “ Nothing.”

“Nothing? You can’t tell me that you’re not thinking about anything. There must be something on your mind. I see you smiling over there.” I wasn’t thinking about nothing. I was thinking about her. I was thinking about her big brown eyes staring back at me. I was thinking about her perfect white teeth that formed into a smile at the sight of me. Most people look away from me. He looks repulsed every time he looks at me.

“ I didn’t know I was smiling, I’m sorry. “ I shift in my seat.

“When we get home I need you to load up the dishwasher and start it, we still have our clothes on the bed that you need to fold and put away. Remember to fold my boxers. I’m tired of you just throwing them into my drawer. Today’s Tuesday, so you need to water the back and front yard.” He pulled into our driveway.

“ Remember to water each succulent for 30 seconds. Last time you watered them for 45 seconds. We can’t be wasting water like that.”

I reach for the door handle, he puts his hand on my shoulder and grips it.

“Hey, don’t embarrass me with that crap on your lips again. Where are you getting that lipstick from anyway, it wasn’t apart of the budget. Are you buying stuff and sending it to your mom’s house again?” He tightens his grip on my shoulder.

“No, my mom gave it to me.” I let go of the door handle.

“Don’t lie to me, I know when you lie. I can always tell when you lie.”

“I’m not lying. You can ask her yourself.”

“Oh I will. Give it to me now.” He lets go of my shoulder and puts his hand out. I just stare at him.

“Give it to me right now!” He yelled. I dig into my Jean pocket. I hold on to it and slowly pull it out of my pocket. He snatched it from my hand.

“You don’t need this. You are beautiful just the way you are.” I feel the lump form in the back of my throat. The tears start trickling down my face. I use my sleeve to wipe away the tears.

Introduction

“Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”

Rumi

This book is dedicated to all the ones that had to suffer in silence . The ones that saw the red flags and still looked the other way. The ones that were belittled and degraded by the ones they trusted the most. The ones that are afraid to tell their story. The ones that are the forgotten stories. The truth always comes to light. Paving the way for the next one to survive and thrive. This is one for you.

“You may come in now. “ the nurse said as she called us over from the waiting room at the doctor’s office. She walks us over to the scale.

“Please take your shoes off and stand on the scale.” She looks in my direction and smiles. I look down to the ground not wanting to make eye contact with her. I untie my shoelaces and slip my feet out of my shoes. My left off grey sock had a hole in it. I use my right foot to try to cover the hole.

I hope that she didn’t notice.

I look up and the nurse is still smiling and waiting for me to stand on the scale.

I slowly walk over to the scale. He clears his throat which startles me and I walk faster. I stand on the scale. She pushes the nob over to 150 lbs. The needle is imbalanced. She pushes the scale over to the left. 140, 130, 120, 110. The nurse looks confused. “Hmmm 95 pounds.” The nurse raises her eyebrows. “ Let’s see how tall you are. Feet against the wall, please.” I stand against the wall. Looking down to not make eye contact with her.

“ You are 5 feet 5 inches tall. “ she says as she logs down the results on my chart.

“Your room is the first door on the right.” She leads the way. The nurse opens the door and leads us in. She grabs a hospital gown from a cabinet and places it on the examination table.

“Please take everything off and put this on.” The nurse said to me and looked concerned as she looked over in his direction. He just smiles at her, making himself comfortable in a chair. The nurse walks out of the room.

“Why are you getting so skinny if you’re always eating like a pig?” He questions me. I just shrug my shoulders as I unzip his oversized hoodie and pull it off. Unbuckled my belt and my pants slipped to the floor. I bend over to pick up my pants and notice him glaring at me. I look away as I try to unfasten my bra. He immediately stands up and walks back over. He swats my hand away “Here I got that for you.” He says as he unfastened my bra. I get the chills as he touches my bare back. I bend forward to take off my underwear. I hear his breath intensify. I quickly grab the gown and tie the front. He laughs as he walks back to the chair. I sat at the examination table. He looks down at his phone and starts to smile. There’s a knock on the door.

“I’m coming in.” the doctor announces as she comes into the room. The first person she sees is him. She looks surprised to see him there.

“Oh, who is going to be the patient today?” She looks over at me. He started laughing. “ It's her doctor’s appointment but she wants me here.” He looks over at me and smiles at a Chester cat. The doctor is looking at me. I look away from her. “Okay. "The doctor looks bewildered. She looks into my ears with her otoscope.

“Open your mouth and say ahh.” I open my mouth and she looks inside my mouth. She listens to my heart with heart with her stethoscope. “Are you having any issues? “ she asks me. “ She said that a hurt stomach has been bothering her.” He speaks for me. The doctor looks at me, waiting for me to answer. “ My stomach has been hurting. “ I whisper.

“Okay lay on your back please.” I lay back on the table. She touches my belly.

“Does it hurt when I touch you here?” I try not to winch. “No” I shake my head. She touches another spot. “ How about here?” I hold my breath. To prevent myself from yelping out in pain. “ No” I say a little louder. The doctor looks confused. “ I told you that it was all in your head.” He says as a matter of fact. She looks down and stares me straight in the eyes. “ I need to give you a Pap smear, are you okay with him here?” She asks me as she stares into my eyes. I break eye contact with her and look over at him. “ It's okay,” I say slowly. “What was that dear?” She asks me again, making sure she heard me correctly. He sucks his teeth and sighs. I look her in the eyes. “It’s okay.” I nod at her.

“Okay legs up and spread them please. “ she taps my right leg as she gets her tools ready.

“You’re going to feel some pressure.” He sits up in his chair to get a better view. I look over and see a devilish smile spread across his face. I look away and close my eyes shut. I start humming to distract me from the sight of him.

“All done, you can sit up now.”