Page 109 of The Tattered Gloves
“What about school?” I asked.
“I’m not going back there with that creep. Not until he’s behind bars where he deserves to be.”
I looked at both of them. “Neither of you went to school today?”
They both shook their heads.
“Side by side, remember?” Sam said.
I agreed, “Side by side.”
After Allison headed off to bed, Sam and I were left alone for a while, the house filling with the smell of butter and melted cheese. He played with my messy hair while I stared at the Christmas lights still twinkling on the tree.
“Do you remember that conversation we had a while back about the scale?” I asked, still fixated on the lights.
“And the bags of flour? Sure.”
“I realized something tonight as I was sitting alone on a park bench, listening to your message. I always told myself it was my fault. I opened the door that night. I disobeyed my mother. It was my decision, so the consequences that followed fell on my shoulders. My decisions… my flour, right?
“But, tonight, as you explained all the reasons I wasn’t this weak person that I’d convinced myself I was, I realized… it wasn’t my decision that night. It was his — his bags of flour. Not mine.”
He nodded. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“Everyone always says that, but I don’t think I really got it until tonight on that street corner. It wasn’t my fault — what happened that night — but if I chose to leave my family and my home, knowing that this evil man was still here, possibly doing the same thing to other girls… or even my best friend? That would be on me. That would be my tipping point.”
“And so you came home,” he said. “Ready to fight.”
“I’m already wearing my boxing gloves,” I said, flashing my ratty red gloves.
He laughed, pulling me close, and I snuggled into his warmth and his love before swiftly falling asleep.
I awoke in my own bed, still wearing the clothes I’d had on the night before. Next to me was a note.
You’re cute when you sleep. See you in the morning.
—Sam
That little flip-flop thing my stomach did whenever Sam laughed or smiled or talked happened, and I couldn’t help but smile until I heard the laughter outside my door. As the light streamed in from the window, I jumped up, frantic over the time.
Pulling the door open, I jogged down the hallway and into the kitchen where I found Sam, Allison, and Addy, all dressed and ready for the day.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” I asked as they all stood around, drinking cups of cocoa.
“You were exhausted, Willow,” Addy explained. “You needed rest.”
“But I need to get this over with,” I pleaded.
“And we will, but you needed your rest. Today won’t be easy.”
She was right. Although I was fully committed to this now, I hadn’t actually thought the whole thing through. I had no idea what I would be walking into.
“Why don’t you go take a shower? By the time you’re dressed, I’ll have breakfast ready.”
Looking down at my wrinkled clothes, knowing my breath must be something close to awful, I wholeheartedly agreed.
I left the kitchen filled with the sweet smell of chocolate and headed for the bathroom.
A set of familiar footsteps followed close behind me.
