tainted realities {frankel}

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Nothing would be the same again for Mina Knudsen. Everything that she had grown to know had changed. Loved ones taken away from her within an instant. Despite all the physical pain that she had to endure, it’s the mental pain that will take time for her to recover from. Lying in the tent for hours, helping her head heal that had been rung like a bell after falling down the collapsed stairs while trying to save Teagan, she hadn’t realise that nobody came to visit her. Where was her mother, her brothers, her father? As soon as her body was ready, she went looking for them, hoping to see their healthy faces in the rows of the injured. Hours of searching, not a single familiar face. Venturing back home, she was relieved to see the home without a single scratch, the only fortunate thing about having it more inland. But inside, the house would be a little bit emptier.

Opening up the door to her home, only her mother greeted her, tears stained on her cheeks. ”They’re gone Mina, they’re all gone.” Swept away in their trawler, the wave would have got them first. Pulled into a watery grave, to become feed for the marine life, never to be seen again. How would Mina survive with just her mother? Although everything changed, her mother only had Mina now and her attitude towards her daughter slowly changed. They had to help each other through the tough time. Grieving and mourning within each other’s hands.

Days past and everything that surrounded Mina began to rebuild. Although pain still circulated her body, she tried her best to help those who had given up their time to come to District Four and help. Eventually time went on and the community spirit quickly helped with the recovery process and Mina returned home to comfort her mother. Keeping herself busy amongst all the chaos is the only way for Mina to cope. As soon as she gets a lone time with her mind, that is when all the grief floods her like the tsunami that caused all the devastation.

Plucking up the courage to go to the beach again, Mina left her slowly mending mother to go back to her peace place. Tonnes of people occupied the beach, many tackling the waves. It is as if nothing happened and everything was back to normal. Dressed only in her maroon laced bikini she’d lay out her towel, laying on it to allow her skin to catch the sun’s rays. Scratches and bruises still remain on her skin, many likely to transform into scars, reminding her of the day. Fortunately she came out of it with just a sore head and body but so many lost so much more.

Teagan crossed her mind so many times, where was he? She hadn’t seen him since the day and she begs that he is still alive. Maybe he is helping his family rebuild, she’ll soon see him.

Scanning the ocean, she’d watched the surfers, envious of their capability. One day she’ll purchase her own board and maybe ride the waves by herself. Moving her eyes to the edge of the beach, a male in a wheel chair catches her eye. Teagan? Pulling her towel from the sand, she’d spring towards him, relief filling her body.

”Teagan, you’re o…” Her eyes would fix themselves on the wheelchair, hoping that it was only temporary.”You’re alive! It is so good to see you.”

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Feeling the sand tickle at her toes sends an army of emotions through Mina. Even though the soles of her feet are slowly beginning to cook, a different surface than her house’s floors is a soothing change for her. Any environment out of the home of mourning is a great escape for Mina; she still feels sorrow from the loss of her father and brothers but being sad about it won’t help revive her mood. Nothing she and her mother can do will bring them back and even if it is hard to accept, they just have too. Death is just a part of life; it follows everyone around, slowly preparing to pounce. Obviously death has some worth for Mina’s father and brothers, seeing as they took them early.

Scattered across the horizon, perfect waves ascend on the ocean but despite them being so great, they’re nothing compared to the chaotic wave that struck the District. It’s odd how everything quickly became tranquil and peaceful. Nature plays odd games; maybe it gets in a mood sometimes like people. Anger must have struck nature that day, for it to unleash all of its power onto the world, whatever triggered that anger, it is definitely something people caused.

Seeing Teagan sat in the wheelchair makes Mina feels pity towards him. Secluded to wheels, what could have possible happened to him? Begging again that it is only temporary, Mina is eager to get back on the waves, with Teagan by her side. Never could she do it by herself, maybe she could ride her own board but she wouldn’t feel safe if Teagan wasn’t nearby. That’s how it’s supposed to be. Even if she proved she can’t protect anyone, especially after the day cliff diving, she can at least have her on protection…in the form of Teagan.

Teagan asks how Mina is doing and she is conflicted on whether or not to dilute the truth. This isn’t the time to bring up the loss of her family. ”Ahh I could be better.” Sitting down in the sand besides Teagan’s chair, she looks up, inspecting it. ”So when you ditching those wheels?”

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Taking a cup full of sand in her hand, Mina funnels the particles, watching them retreat back to the ground. Doing it over and over, it helps tackle the boredom that swarms her. It took a while for her routine to come back but it never truly will return. Never will she be able to wave goodbye to her brothers and father as they go off on the trawler. Never will she be able to have a real family dinner around the table because now, now there will be four empty spaces. Four plates that won’t have to be filled. Three and half beds left empty. No matter how hard she tries, Mina can never make her life the same again.

But she can change it, have a fresh start. Even if it’s a horrid thought, so many have died, leaving jobs open. Gutting fish for a living is not something Mina wishes to continue all her life. Now there are so many opportunities for her to take up. The surf shop that Mina and Teagan nearly lost their lives in, lost it’s only two shopkeepers however the owner of the shop still lives. Planning to rebuild it, Mina will be quick on applying for a job their whenever it opens its doors.

Washing her mind of the tragic events, before she thinks of taking a new path, she needs to get through the ruins of the one she is currently walking. Not exactly having help psychologically from her mother, who spends most of her days in mourning, the only way Mina has been able to help herself is by doing chores. Before the tragedy, Mina would have never been seen washing the dishes but now she has been cleaning the house from top to bottom. Maybe she has acquired a new obsessive compulsive cleaning disorder but it has at least helped with the bereavement.

Looking at Teagan in his wheelchair, she knows he must be helped to be rebuilt, everyone does in the District. If he has lost anyone in his family, he needs someone besides him, unfortunately Mina did not have that but maybe Teagan can help her too.

But first, he needs to get out of that chair, so they can both get back on the waves together. Maybe he could take up the second job in the shop alongside Mina.

"I'll never walk again."

Hit in the chest by a second tsunami, shock fills Mina’s body. Her only true friend…unable to walk.

Pushing herself off the ground, she stands in front of him, her face expressionless. ”You will, I’ll make sure you will, someone must be able to help you.” Ideas swarm her mind but then reality hits her, District Four, even in its wealth isn’t known for great medical care. ”Uhh…even if you can’t walk…you’ll be able to do a lot of fun things.I’ll make sure of it!”

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