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“Have you seen any neighbors?” Korry asked.
“Um, yeah, I think the day we arrived,” I replied. “Shit.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be here bright and early, just in case.”
I grimaced. “How early?”
“Five.”
“Can I give you a key so you can let yourself in? Cause I sure as fuck won’t be up by then,” I snarked.
Korry nodded. “That’s a lot of trust. Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Just don’t venture upstairs unannounced,” Reed added with a grin.
“That’s a given.” Korry stood up. “Well, I best be off. I’ve got to extend my hotel stay. Text or call any time. If you need me to stay over, I will. A couch is fine.”
“There’s two bedrooms on the second floor so there’s plenty of room. We’ll consider that plan B.”
Korry nodded. “Fair enough.”
“I’ll get the spare key and walk out with you,” Reed offered.
Reed got up and followed Korry to the door.
I sat back down on the couch.
My phone rang but I didn’t recognize the number, so I ignored it.
The notifications kept coming in. I made the mistake of looking at my socials again and reading more comments.
The hateful ones. Ones I shouldn’t be looking at but did.
I closed my eyes but that didn’t help matters.
Suddenly, I was back in that shithole I grew up in.
It an unusually warm October day.
I was fifteen.
I told Mama I was going to try out for a part in our high school play.
All I wanted was to be on stage. To be someone else. To escape the reality of home.
I didn’t hate her, but I hated our life. And the feeling of being trapped. I couldn’t tell anyone our secret. No one would believe us.
I was always told to keep my mouth shut, no matter what. And today was no exception.
Mama told me to keep quiet about the audition, but it was too late. Kenny overheard us talking.
Then he was cursing at us both, the angry shouts followed by the shrill echo of my mother’s screams as he punched her in the face. I tried to stop him, but I was no match for his size and strength. Mama passed out on the floor of the kitchen, blood flowing out of her mouth, her long brown hair soaked in it.
I had no one to protect me now. I was alone.
Kenny yanked on my hair and dragged me away from her, into the hallway. I was punching and screaming, trying my best to get free, but it only enraged him. I was no match for his strength.
