On the Bathroom Floor
Author’s Note: Sisters are forever. Here’s to us against the world, Reia.
FADE IN:
INT. MIA'S BATHROOM
TRACKING SHOT
We see parts of the MIRROR shattered, a HAIRBRUSH thrown on the floor, untangled HAIR DRYER and CURLING IRON strewn across the floor, small dots of BLOOD leading up to a pool of blood gathering at the feet of MIA. We move up her legs and see the scars, bruises, and burns tattooing her skin. Mia, a 12-year-old girl, hugs her knees to her chest in the corner of the bathroom, her tears running, lips quivering, body shaking, and breath hitching. A chunk of her hair is missing.
MAYA (O.S.)
Mia? Mia!
MAYA, Mia's 14 year old sister, runs into the bathroom and sees Mia in the corner. She immediately runs to Mia, stepping onto the shards of glass. Her legs start to bleed but she doesn't notice.
MAYA
(huffing)
Mia, are you okay?
Mia doesn't look up.
MAYA
Answer me, Mia! Are you okay?
Mia turns her head a little to see there's a scar on Maya's leg.
MIA
You're bleeding.
Maya looks down and brushes the blood off, turning to Mia.
MAYA
Mia, are you okay?
Maya's voice fades off as Mia leans her head against Maya's shoulder.
CUT TO:
BEGIN FLASHBACK
INT. MIA'S BATHROOM
There's a plugged in CURLING IRON, a HAIR DRYER, and HAIR BRUSH sitting on the counter. Part of the mirror is cracked and falling.
IN SLOW MOTION...we see a blurry figure lunging at Mia and grabbing onto her shoulders. Mia tries to peel off the hands but fails.
MIA (O.S)
Stop! Stop!
END FLASHBACK
CUT TO:
INT. MIA'S BATHROOM
Maya is stroking Mia's hair with one hand while the other arm is wrapped around Mia's shoulder. Mia tightens up all of a sudden.
MAYA
Hey, hey, hey. You're okay.
MAYA
Okay, let's count to three.
(beat)
Focus on me, okay?
Mia nods, begrudgingly. Maya grabs onto both of Mia's hands.
MAYA
One
MIA
One
MAYA
Two
MIA
Two
MAYA
Thr-
CUT TO:
BEGIN FLASHBACK
INT. MIA'S BATHROOM
We see the hands on Mia's shoulder grab onto Mia's hair.
MIA (O.S.)
You're hurting me!
FIGURE (O.S.)
(woman's voice)
Shut up!
The figure shoves Mia to the ground, ripping out a chunk of her hair. Mia looks at the place where her hair is missing and begins wailing.
FIGURE (O.S.)
Stop whining!
The figure chucks a hair brush at Mia. It skims her face, leaving a wound. The curling iron is thrown at Mia's feet, burning her skin. Mia screams in agony.
END FLASHBACK
CUT TO:
INT. MIA'S BATHROOM
Mia, shivering even more now, looks over at her singed foot and with trembling hands, gently grazes over the scar on her cheek. Maya, seeing Mia touch open cut, removes Mia's hand and brushes Mia's cheeks with her thumb.
MAYA
(faintly)
Hey, hey, hey. I'm here.
Maya grabs a nearby bandage and smooths it across Mia's face. Mia reaches up and holds the hand Maya is using to put on the bandage. Maya holds Mia's head to hers, their foreheads are touching.
MAYA
Listen to me, Mia.
(beat)
I will always be here for you. Okay?
Mia nods. When she looks down, she sees that Maya has scars of her own. The cut Maya got from the broken mirror is bleeding.
CUT TO:
BEGIN FLASHBACK
INT. MIA'S BATHROOM
The figure slams its hands into the counter, causing shards of broken glass from the mirror to fall to the floor, piercing Mia.
MIA
(crying)
Stop, mom. Please!
The figure, MOM, closes in on Mia. Mia backs into the corner, leaving traces of blood across the floor.
MOM
Look what you did to the bathroom!
Mia, in extreme pain, silences her cries by holding her breath.
MOM
I never should've had you in the first place!
Mom storms out, leaving Mia crying in the debris.
END FLASHBACK
FADE TO:
INT. MIA'S BATHROOM
Maya is still holding Mia's head to her own, both of their eyes closed. Suddenly, Mia looks up and her hands start to fumble for something in the mess.
MAYA
What are you looking for?
Mia applies a bandage over the wound on Maya's leg, silent. Maya looks up at Mia and they hold their gaze for a few counts. Maya then hugs Mia to her chest and their tears flow together.
FADE TO BLACK
