Page 21 of An Eye For Illusion

There are at least twice that number of children running around in their pjs. I smile when I see them. They look so happy and so carefree that my heart sings at the sight. I glance around the room and realize I recognize a few women.

I see Melanie and smile as I head in her direction. I hoped I’d see her tonight.

“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” she says as she stands and wraps her arms around me.

I exhale and my shoulders sag at the contact. This is exactly what I needed.

“I’ve missed you. How have you been?” I ask as I stand back to take in her face.

She looks tired, but she looks so much better than she did the first time I met her. The outside is healing, but I’m worried about the inside. I hope she’s taking care of herself. I was here the day she came in battered and bruised.

She had a huge black eye that was so swollen she could barely open it. She also had broken ribs, a fractured arm, and a shattered spirit. It’s soul crushing to see the condition some of these women arrive in. It’s taken her months to heal from those injuries, and it will take much longer to heal from the ones the eye can’t see.

Not all situations are like Melanie’s though. Some women are down on their luck, but it wasn’t abuse that brought them here. Most have nowhere else they can go, and they’re parenting on their own. Carol is here to help, no matter the reason, no matter the cost.

She shrugs her shoulders. “I’m doing better, I guess. Tony hasn’t found us, so that’s a plus.”

That’s the beauty of what Carol does here. It isn’t advertised as a women’s shelter exclusively. It’s a community center with two divisions. One houses women and children, and the other houses men. They’re kept separate for obvious reasons, but the branding also helps the women hide in plain sight. Most abusers don’t think to look here since men are housed here.

It’s damn brilliant if I say so myself. All thanks to Carol.

“Alright, ladies and kiddos! Let’s play some bingo,” Carol announces. “And we have a very special guest with us tonight, and I know she would looove to call out the numbers!” Carol giggles at the last part as her eyes find mine.

Mine crinkle in response. She knows I hate calling attention to myself around here since no one knows who I am. They simply know me as Jade, not a corporate powerhouse, and that’s exactly how I like it. There’s no pressure to be anyone but myself here, and I’m unsure I have that luxury anywhere else in my life. Carol likes to use every opportunity she gets to call attention to me.

I playfully groan.

“You heard her. Get up there, hot stuff. Let’s hope you’re my lucky charm tonight. I haven’t won one of these since I’ve been here!” Melanie says as she gently pushes me in Carol’s direction.

“B-14, I repeat B, as in boy, 14.” My voice cracks a little at the end with how much I’ve been talking this evening. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time, and I’m so glad I came instead of going home to a cold, empty penthouse.

“Bingo!” Melanie shoots up from her chair across the room. A look of pure triumph on her sweet face. I hoped she’d get a bingo. She needs a win.

“Call out your numbers, Melanie, and let’s see if you’re a winner!” I call back.

Carol goes over to take a look at her card as she calls out her numbers.

“We have a winner, folks, and this was our last one for the night!” Carol announces.

A few people grumble, but for the most part, everyone is tired and ready to call it a night.

Melanie practically skips over to claim her little baggy of treats. The rest of the women and children file out of the room to head to their rooms for the night, except for Melanie’s little boy, Noah.

I pick up Melanie’s prize to hand it to her. “That was fun,” I say genuinely.

“Sure was! I’ve been dying for some of the fudge bars Brenda makes for these bags, and I finally got one!” Her excitement is infectious as she digs into the bag and pulls out a baggie with a giant fudge bar in it.

I’ve never had Brenda’s fudge, but by how Melanie moans after her first bite, they must be freaking delicious.

She breaks off a piece and hands it over to me. “You have to try this.” She breaks off another piece for Noah, and he takes it before scurrying off again.

I start to say no because I’m strict with my diet. I rarely eat sweets, and when I do, I never eat them this late. However, I stop myself before I tell her no.

Why the hell not? Tonight, I’m going to live a little. It’s about damn time.

I reach out and take the fudge, and before I can talk myself out of it, I shove it into my mouth. Oh, holy hell. Why is that so freaking good?

I moan along with Melanie as we eat up the sweet treat. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth,” she says just as Thomas comes up beside us from the back of the room.

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