Stripped Vanity

Water began to spill over my face and body, blinding my open eyes. I kicked and thrashed; he was still trying to grab my feet. Even though the rain pounded against my bare body, I could still feel his presence. It was his smell; he reeked of beer and mud. This was my way to make it out of here alive; I had to use my senses.

I landed a kick at his face and now free, I walked briskly down the deck, my frizzy black hair flying in the wind. Chills began to creep up my bare body. The icy winds were blowing and the cold, heavy rain was falling.

Where am I? Every time I tried to wipe the water away from my eyes, more water just replaced it. I had to find somewhere to hide until help came. I moved my hands around the vicinity and secured it on top of the railing.

Now, I walked faster and faster and soon I found myself running, the feeling of freedom overwhelming my body. I had been locked in the bottom of the boat with that man forever, his hands ripping away at the privacy of my soul. Now I was free and there was no way I was going in the basement of the ship.

Lost in thought, I slipped in a puddle of rainwater. I fell on my back, my soaked body striking against the wood of the deck. The blow overcame me, dizziness and pain was all I felt now, but there was something else too. There was a faint taste and smell. It was the smell of beer. It was the taste of mud flying within the windy rain.

I forced myself up and began limping down the deck, now determined and focused. No matter how fast I tried to run, the smell and taste continued to grow in intensity. I looked back and was about to yell but the only thing that came out of my mouth was my hot breath evaporating in the cold air.

A force hit against my body, and I found myself flying over deck. His hands stroked against my frizzy hair and no matter how I tried to push his body away from mines, he continued to yearn for me. He wanted me forever, all to himself.

We landed face-forward on wet wood. I felt like I had fallen from a ship to the same ship; my head was spinning in confusion and anxiety. I pushed myself up and nearly fell into the furious waters. In sudden recognition, I pushed myself backwards and I felt hands grip against my numb skin.

No, I thought, furious. I flung my hands around, looking for anything that would help me now. My blinded fingers gripped upon a long wooden object. I yanked my body away from the man’s hands and flung the object, with my hands, in his direction. I felt a vibration go through my arms.

I had hit him, I thought, victorious. A wave of water splashed upon my face and I knew now that he was somewhere in the water. This was my chance. The long wooden object had to be an oar. I placed oar in the water and began to row.

The smell of beer soon left my nostrils and was replaced by the smell of seawater. The taste of mud soon was gone as well and replaced by the rain. I had my freedom again; no one would tear away the vanity of my naked body.

I didn't know where I was rowing because of the heavy rain but I knew as long as I was far away from that man I was the safest I had been in five years.

My mind drifted to the thought of my mother, who had to be fifty by now. She was the person who warned me about flirting and accepting flirtation from guys. Now I had learned my lesson.

"You're going to get yourself in trouble if you keep accepting all that crap," those were the words she’d told me the night my soul was wounded and stolen. That I was taken from my nest, from the people who were the only ones who truly loved me, cared for me.

No way was I going to let that happen again, ever. I picked up my speed of rowing, determined to reunite with my family. To show them how much I truly loved them, to show them how much I was sorry to abandon them, to rebel against their last words…