Painkillers.

Putting her hands on the brass door knob after unlocking the door, she sighed at the never ending sight of the empty house. It was as if she was staring at the void, and the void was staring back at her.

"I am home."

Her voice echoed through the house. Closing the door behind her, she turned the lights on out of reflex of staying at that house for a long time. Peeking at the living room, she saw nothing but a plate, full of sandwiches wrapped in a plastic cover snd with a note under it.

"I came here to take some urgent papers. Just thought that you need some food when you return home. Take care and stay strong!

-mom"

Her mom was working late hours for the past few days, coming late at night, unaware of what her daughter was going through. Her support was what has kept her going all those years. She didn't tell her about her problems, because she was scared that it might upset her that she didn't tell her about that all that time.

She opened up the palstic wrap before biting on a sandwich. Her gaze moved to the television, as she took the plate and sat in front of it. Moving between channels and eating, she came across a small documentary about flimmaking. She still had the spark of acting, she didn't want to stop. She wanted to keep going...

"Can I ever return back to my prime again?", she wondered, which saddened her a bit, knowing that it was almost impossible.

Having no good shows on the television then, she got hold of her bag, whoch was on the couch, just in front of the television, behind her back.

"Did I have homework today?", she said to herself, "Maybe not."

Still being hungry after some time, she got herself up to the kitchen, cooking something for her and her mother, for when she arrives.

"What should I make? What do I have?"

She had leftover raw chicken, some curry powder and some vegetables enough for six servings. It will go for quite some time.

Taking the white and red checkerboard apron from the hanger, she knotted it to her back to keep it from loosening up. She swiftly cut the chickens into small chunks before putting them all in order to make the curry.

She left the kitchen to her room on the second floor, before turning on an alarm for ten minutes.

She locked her room, even though nobody was home. She removed her uniform, exposing her light skin to the open air. Her light skin glittered in the afternoon sun, as she examined her body.

"I have gotten skinny..."

She diverted her attention to the marks on her arms, which was barely covered when Kanako saw it. The spot had a bluish tint, with some red and black spots, which was clear that someone had assaulted her.

"Ouch!"

Even though she was carefully putting cream on the affected area, she still felt the pain of it.

"The effect of yesterday's painkillers wore off..."