Page 36 of Grave Intentions

"Don't thank me. I should've done something sooner." Jamie stands, grabbing a clean glass from the cabinet. He fills it with water and sets it in front of me. "Drink this. And if he ever tries anything again, you come straight to me. I mean it."

I push back from the table, my legs steadier now. "I should try to get some sleep."

Jamie nods, but I catch the worry in his eyes. He tears a corner from an old grocery list on the fridge and scribbles something down.

"Here's my cell." He slides the paper across the table. "I mean it—any time, day or night. If I'm not here, call me. I'll come right over."

My fingers close around the paper, this small lifeline. The Jamie I knew growing up would've walked away and pretended not to see. But the man sitting across from me now has changed. His eyes hold a determination I've never seen before.

"College opened my eyes to so many things," he says, as if reading my thoughts. "Made me realize how messed up everything was here. Still is." He runs a hand through his hair. "I can't change the past, but I can try to make things right now."

I tuck the paper into my pocket, touched by this unexpected alliance. "Thank you, Jamie. Really."

He waves off my gratitude, but I see the resolve in his expression. Whatever made him change his mind about our family's dysfunction, I'm grateful for it. Having someone else in this house who sees the truth and is willing to stand up against it since Talon was kicked out lifts a weight I didn't realize I was carrying.

22

LENA

Six months later…

Istare at my reflection in the mirror, trying to ignore the bruises hidden beneath my long-sleeved graduation gown. The beautiful bird pendant I know Talon left me sits around my neck. I never take it off.

Just one week ago, Mr. Wilson had beaten me for incorrectly sorting the trash, his drunken rage leaving its marks on my body.

I take a deep breath, focusing on the day ahead. I’ve worked hard for this moment, studying relentlessly and honing my coding skills. The full-ride scholarship to MIT is a testament to my dedication and natural talent. It means I get to leave this place. Unfortunately, David got into Boston University, meaning we’re practically going to college together. And Mrs. Wilson has forced me to room with him at his apartment the Collins bought him.

The Wilsons practically blackmailed me into accepting him as my fiancé. They said if I didn’t agree to marry David, they’d reveal the truth about Talon and me.

And while I’m not ashamed of what happened between us, most people would find it disgusting. They even threatened to tell MIT that I’d been fucking my brother to get me kicked out.

David’s motivations, on the other hand, appear to be ego-driven. My constant refusal of his advances has only fueled his determination to have me. It’s as if the challenge of breaking down my walls and bending me to his will has become an obsession for him, a twisted game that feeds his ego and makes him determined to make me his wife.

As I go downstairs, the Wilsons greet me with false smiles and empty praise. Mrs. Wilson fusses over my hair and gown while Mr. Wilson claps me on the shoulder, his grip a little too tight. I fight the urge to flinch, knowing that any sign of weakness will only fuel his cruelty.

“We’re so proud of you, Lena,” Mrs. Wilson gushes, her eyes shining with manufactured tears. “You’ve come so far.” I hate how false she is. But the moment she realized how good a pupil I was, she always latched onto the hope I’d be a big achiever. It almost made me want to be shit at school to spite her, but I knew my only way out of this kind of life was to excel and get myself out. No one else would help me.

I force a smile, nodding along to their hollow words. She acts as if she’s had a hand in my success, conveniently forgetting the years of neglect and abuse I’ve endured under her roof. And it’s all for appearances. She likes to brag about me to her friends.

As we pose for photos, I can’t help but think of Talon. His absence is a constant ache in my chest, a reminder of the one person who truly understood me. The man who took my virginity and then left like it meant nothing, and yet, I wonder where he is now… if he’s found the freedom he so desperately craved.

The graduation ceremony passes in a blur of speeches and applause. As I cross the stage to accept my diploma, I glimpse afamiliar figure in the shadows. My heart skips a beat, but when I blink, he’s gone.

Later, as I’m getting undressed for bed, I find a small, handwritten note on my pillow. The words are simple, but they fill me with a sense of warmth and longing:

“I’m proud of you, princess. Keep shining. - T”

I clutch the note to my chest, a tear sliding down my cheek. Talon may be gone, but his presence lingers. I have no idea how he got in here to leave the note. But I wish he’d come and see me. Speak to me. Anything.

I stiffen at a knock on my door and turn to see David let himself in. His eyes roam over my body, and I instinctively pull my cardigan tighter around myself.

“What do you want, David?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

He steps closer, invading my personal space. “I just wanted to see my beautiful girl before the big move,” he says, his tone dripping with false affection.

I back away, but he follows, his movements predatory. “I’m busy packing. Please leave.”

David’s expression hardens, and he grabs my arm, yanking me towards him. “Don’t be like that, Lena. We’re going to be together forever. You should be grateful.”

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