Page 52 of A Broken Promise

“My period came,” I said pulling my pants up.

“Oh fuck. I forgot you could have those.”

“What do you mean you forgot about those? Don’t you have them too?”

“Oh, hell no, Freckles. No offense but fuck no. I cut my birthing machine out a long time ago.”

“Wait what?” I asked, surprised.

“Oh yeah, the moment I found a doctor competent enough to do it. I had them cut it out completely. No mess and pain, just pleasure for my lady parts.” She rubbed the lower bottom of her stomach, smirking.

“But why?” I asked, rubbing my forehead. This day was getting too long.

“Meh, something about blood coming from down there just brought too many unwanted memories. Plus, look at you…it’s such a hassle and inconvenience to deal with it every. Single. Month.”

I agreed with her there. My stomach twisted in pain. I grunted in frustration. At that moment, cutting out my treacherous uterus seemed like a reasonable idea.

Priya was still amused. She chuckled.

“Don’t look so heartbroken, Freckles. Being a woman sucks at times, but would you rather have a dick? Like, heaven’s no. Disgusting,” she said, laughing. I chuckled back. “We will get you supplies before we leave.”

The cold wetness of bloodied underwear against my smooth skin sent an ick down my spine. I was ambushed. Thoroughly ambushed by Fate.

Priya, unlike me, was in a fantastic mood.

“Aww, it’s okay, Freckles. Look at the bright side. At least now we know for sure you are not a boy.” I scowled at her.

We started walking back. Priya played with the small carving of a bear.

“Did you find what you were hoping for?” I asked her.

“Yes, and I got you something too.”

She pulled another carving like hers, but of a bird. Though small, the carving felt heavy in my hand.

“You can fly now on your own, Freckles. You arefree.” She smirked.

But I didn’t feel free. In fact, I didn’t know what to feel at all.

All my feelings were still quieted down deep inside of me. Like they were too lost, sunk deep in the ocean. Always so loud, they were now muted, hiding in the darkness, scared to come out.

But the truth was, I didn’t need to feel in order to function.

27

We walked on foot past the long fields of golden wheat. Rows of people with their large sickles, working nonstop until the dark of the night. Harvesting.

We still had a few hours of walking until we reached the small dock Priya secured the boat at. The purple sky now stretched bright on the horizon. Loud crickets chirped away in the grass along our dirt path.

Priya was snacking on an apple with another loaf of recently bought bread.

“You are awfully quiet today,” she said, taking another loud bite of her pink apple.

I was indeed quiet today. Not sure what to say. Not sure what to ask. Not even sure of my own thoughts, but instead grounded to my surroundings, keenly aware of the end of my ponytail caressing the top of my now-cleaned crossbow.

“I guess I am not sure what to talk about or what to ask.” I offered her the truth.

“Well, staring on the horizon like that is kind of weird and frankly annoying. Spill it.”

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