//------------------------------//
// Scars 
// Story: Sides of Shadows 
// by Ameliathefatcat 
//------------------------------//

I opened the gift my favorite sister-in-law gave to me. I might not have a favorite brother, I’m not allowed to, but I do have a favorite sister-in-law.

“Sunny Bunny,  congrats on representing CPA for the Friendship Games. I got you something special you can wear on the family vacation this summer love Berry Crisp” I read the letter. I open the box and saw a beautiful bikini. Perfect for the cruise we’re going on this summer. Berry Crisp second best style in the family. I obviously had the best. I took off my dress to try it on. It fit me beautifully, showing off my beautiful curves. It was more Risqué then Papi wound prefer, he needs to understand I’m no longer a child, I’m seventeen. I stared at myself in the mirror. I loved how the top looked on me. I loved how it showed off my well toned body. Then I looked at the bottoms. It didn’t cover my scar. I kept staring at it, I tried not to cry. I hated my scar, papi and mom tell me that scar makes me beautiful, but they don’t have to deal with girls staring during gym.

Freak 
Diseased
Disgusting 
Disfigured 

Fleur and Suri’s words still hurt all of these years later. Yes it was middle school, but I swear they still muffle stuff under their breaths. Papi and mom keep telling me not to listen to them, Auntie Abacus tells me my grades are much then theirs so I doesn’t matter what they think. But it does, Fleur and Suri are some of the most popular girls in the grade. Yes I’m popular but not nearly as popular as them. At the end of the day I’m the principal’s niece and people don’t want to get my on bad side.

“Hey Sunny, can I come in?” Berry Crisp asked knocking on my door.

“Yes,” I whispered still staring at myself. My sister-in-law walked into my room. She smiled at me as she sat on my bed.

“You look very beautiful. Sunny what’s wrong?” She asked seeing the look on my face.

“Stupid scar,” I muffled sitting next to Berry.

“The bikini is beautiful but it shows off my scar. My scar makes me feel ugly,” I whispered.

“Your scar is a sign of your strength,” Berry told me kissing my forehead. Everyone tells me that, being strong doesn’t make the scar any less ugly. 

“This is the problem with supermodels, they give girls unrealistic expectations about their bodies.”

“It’s not that,” I yelled cutting her off. Yes I’m jealous supermodels but it’s not just that. My scar brings up all those memories, it’s a constant reminder of what I went through. Constantly reminding me that I’m not normal. Constantly reminding me that my body failed me when I was only seven years old. It always reminds me that my stupid kidneys decided one day to stop working.

“Sunny?” Berry asked. I started to cry into her side. I hate crying, crying shows weakness and I’m not weak. Berry rubbed my back and stated to sing me a lullaby. Lullaby she sings to my little niece and nephew. For some reason the lullaby made me feel even worse. I cried harder, my make up started to run down my face.

“Sunny? It’s ok,” she whispered.

“NO ITS NOT, you don’t get it. No one gets it. No one in this family gets it,” I yelled and immediately regretted it. Yes I’m the only in the family to be on kidney dialysis and need a transplant. But Berry was the one to donate a kidney to me.

“I’m sorry,” I whimpered apologizing to her.

“It’s ok, you been through so much,” Berry whispered rubbing my back and kissing the top of my head. 

“You saved my life, I shouldn’t have yelled at you,” I apologized again wiping my face. I’m forever grateful for Berry Crisp, she gave me my the gift of the life.

“Ray called me crazy when I told him I wanted to donate my kidney to you before we even met. We were only dating for a couple years,” Berry whispered. It was true my third oldest brother Ray Shine had only been dating for less than two years when he brought her over for Christmas. I remember vividly sitting on the recliner on dialysis. Papi bringing my dialysis machine down stairs so I could still be with everyone. I remember the dress Berry was wearing when she told me she was a possible match and after graduation she would love to donate her kidney to me. That was the best Christmas ever. Two Christmases later I had a new kidney and Ray and Berry were engaged.

“I still remember the dress you were wearing that Christmas, despite how sick I was I remember everything about that Christmas,” I whimpered like a small child.

“Would you believe me if I say that dress still fits? My body has changed a lot since I was in college but that dress still fits. Hopefully it will still fit by the time you get married and I’ll wear it to your wedding,” Berry joked. 

“If my brothers ever let me get married,” I laughed.

“Sunny, scars tell a story you should be proud of them. It might come in time but you will be proud.”
I rolled my eyes at Berry and looked at my scar. Berry pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head.

“I understand, go and get dress. Your father is taking the family out for dinner,” Berry smiled leaving my room. I starred at myself in the bikini one last time and smiled at myself. Even with my scar I looked gorgeous.

A/N: So Sunny suffered from kidney disease. When she was seven her kidneys suddenly failed nearly killing her. She was on dialysis for several years and got a kidney transplant around the age of 11-12. She is also the youngest of 9 kids and is the only girl