Page 92 of Brutal Knight

Knight wasn’t returning, mama and papa were dead, and I had no one.

No one.

All the emotions of the past years and years came rushing, surging from me in great, heaving sobs. An empty, aching stomach, days and days on end. My parents talking and scheming about me as if I wasn’t even in the room. The loneliness aching inside me, building up and flowing over. My only friend the voice in my head, reaffirming all the negative things my parents ever told me.

And then the helplessness.

Not making the choice to use heroin.

Then being violated in the worst way. Over and over and over and over and over and…

And yet, Knight’s presence in my life made it all worth it.

I had something to look forward to, the small strings of hope binding my heart like the strings to my ribbons.

Until…even that was gone, becausehewas.

I cried for a long time, as the shock of it slowly began to ebb out of me and reality set in.I was alone.

Okay.

What next?

At least, he hadn’t left me to fend for myself on the streets.

I stood.

I was strong enough on my own. I had money, and could finish school.

I could make it on my own.

I would figure it out, like I always had.

I went to the bathroom to dry my tears and, reaching for the toilet paper, I realized that I was still clutching the ribbon in my hand.

I froze.

It couldn’t be a coincidence that the same evening Knight came to visit me was the same night my parents had an 'accident'.

Thoughts racing, I ran back into my room. Grabbing the bag, I hauled it out of my closet and into the middle of the room.

Unzipping it, I dug inside, looking for any kind of clue. If Knight did something to help me, he would’ve put it in here.

I pulled out a small tin, the same kind that mints come in. I opened it.

There were two rings inside.My parents’ wedding rings.

They really were gone.

Gritting my teeth, I held back the emotions that threatened to burst from me again, and dug deeper into the bag. When I didn’t find anything, I frantically dumped it all out onto the floor, not caring about the money now.

Stacks of bundled money fell out, and…and…and nothing more.

That's when it hit me.

Knight didn't come to save me.

This was all him.

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