Page 56 of Inmate 0976371

“I think you know exactly what I mean,” he grins and I reel back, rolling my eyes, knowing exactly where this conversation is going.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t,” I disregard him and get to counting the cash as he hands Shawn the toy he bought him out the gift bag, which lights up my baby’s face and squeezes at my heart.He looks just like him…

“You promised,” he sighs, and I snort.

“I don’t remember doing anything like that,” I mutter, and he comes over to the counter, placing his hand over mine, but I jerk back, looking away when I see the pain in his eyes. I can’t help it… it’s still uncomfortable having other men touch me… even if they are family.

Never, and I mean fucking never… let a man other than me touch what belongs to me.

His wrathful hushed words still cause shivers down my spine as the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end, forcing me to hold back a moan.I miss him even more today than I did the day I woke up in the hospital.

“Robbie, are you paying attention?” Marcus questions and I blink, snapping out of my stupor and glancing back over to him.

“H-huh…” I shake my head, and he frowns.

“Damn Robbie, I thought with time you would get back to your normal self, but you still don’t seem well. Have you been taking your medicine?” he asks, and I throw him a glare that has him jumping back with fear in his eyes. “I… I was o-only asking…” he stammers, and I sigh, closing my eyes.

That happens more often than not these days. Not that I’m interested in any of the weak mother fuckers who try to approach me, but the moment I throw them a glare, they run off scared. My family says I have become unapproachable and that I will die alone, but I don’t give a shit.

The old me is dead… she died in that cabin only to be reborn as someone who’ll take no one’s shit.

They say I’ve changed, but in reality, it’s not that I have changed at all. Rather, I’m not the pushover that I once was, and since I don’t suit their needs anymore, they have all discarded me. They think I care, but I don’t.All I need is my adorable baby Shawn and Saw’s memory to keep me going.

“Of course, I’m taking my medication. I would never stop. I have Shawn to think about, so I can’t afford to fall off into a depression,” I let him know and he rubs the back of his head.

“G-good… I’m glad, but speaking of what you can’t afford… shouldn’t you be thinking about not flaking on the date that I set you up on with my business partner?” Marcus presses, and I grit my teeth. He’s been trying to get me to see this guy for the past few months, but I have refused adamantly because I do not want to meet him. I don’t care how wealthy he is.I’m spoken for.

“I changed my mind,” I respond nonchalantly as I continue counting and Marcus bangs his hand on the counter.

“Why? You promised!” He massages his head, and I shrug, not wanting to explain myself to him or anyone else.It’s not as if they would understand.They all think I’ve gone crazy since my time with Saw, but they couldn’t be further from the truth. I have never known myself more than I do now…the time I spent with him, even when I wasn’t aware, I had never felt so alive.

“Marcus, I did promise, but I’m just not there… and honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever be. I still love Sa?—”

“YOU CAN’T KEEP BEING THIS WAY! THAT SICK MOTHER FUCKER IS DEAD!” Calmly, I set the money down with my eyes on him, pressuring him to back up, “Look, sis, I get it. They said you were brainwashed by that crazy mother fucker, so I’ve been giving you a space to get yourself together, but you have to think about Shawn! He will need a man in his life.

He needs a father and you forcing yourself to be a single parent while running off all the men we try to set you up with isn’t get you anywhere,” he admonishes.

“Who said I needed to get anywhere? I’m content where I am.” I sneer, and he looks away.

“Sis, where are your ambitions? You had such goals and?—”

“They flew off the bridge, crashing and burning with my m?—”

“HE WAS NEVER YOUR MAN! THAT MOTHER FUCKER HELD YOU CAPTIVE, RAPED YOU, AND LEFT YOU IN A MENTAL INSTITUTION AND PREGNANT! FOR FUCK’S SAKE, SNAP OUT OF IT ALREADY!” he shouts.

“YOU WATCH YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!” I warn.

“FUCK NO! YOU HAVE LOST YOUR FUCKING MIND?!” he yells and slams his hand on the desk, scaring Shawn, who starts to cry.

“Damn it! Thanks for that,” I roll my eyes, pushing past him over to my baby, picking him up and holding him tight, singing to him.

“Fuck, Robbie… are you hearing yourself?! Are you paying attention?”

“I do hear myself, and I can hear you as well, asshole, but that doesn’t mean I have to listen,” I remind him.

“But youshould.It’s time to stop letting that sick bastard run you from hell. It’s time you move on.”

“Impossible.” I shake my head, setting down Shawn, kissing the top of his tiny curly head while cupping his cheek. I never wanted to be a mother. I found it burdensome and boring when I already had family to take care of, but Saw gave me this gift… one last piece of him. The only thing tethering me to this world.

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