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“I don’t know enough about her to make the decision. Besides, I’m not lookin’ to keep an old lady around.”
“Why not?”
“Personal reasons,” I tell him. He nods his head as if he understands, but he doesn’t. He doesn’t know about Bethany. None of them do, yet she does. I told her of all people.
“Okay then. You know I’m good with whatever you choose to do,” he says.
“Appreciate that.” With that, he nods toward the door, and I take that as my cue to leave. I stroll out the door, but I don’t see Pierson anywhere.
“Ginger, you seen Pierson?” I ask her knowing she probably won’t answer me.
“Nope.” I huff out a breath and walk past her, heading down the hall. I’m unprepared for what I see when opening my bedroom door.
Pierson’s standing in the corner, her eyes wild and a knife in her hand.
“Pierson?” What the hell happened in the hour I was in church?
“Stay away from me.”
“Pierson, come on. What are you doin’?” I ask her once more as I walk further into the room. She glances around quickly before bringing her eyes back to mine. Tears roll down her cheeks as she shakes her head slowly.
“They’re going to come for me,” she says softly.
“No, they’re not. I’m not gonna let them,” I tell her. She holds the knife so tightly that I see her knuckles turning white.
“Yes, they are. There is nothing you can do to stop them either.”
“Is that how you really feel? You don’t think I can stop them?”
“You can’t! No one can, Tarek!”
“There’s more of us than there is of them. Pass me the knife, Pierson,” I tell her, trying to be gentle with her. I don’t want to startle her or make things worse.
“It would all be so easy, Tarek. Just to end it. I wouldn’t have to worry or look over my shoulder. The dreams would stop. The memories. I miss him, Tarek. I miss my brother,” she sobs as I move closer. When I’m within reach, I hold out my hand for her to give me the knife.
“I know this is hard, Pierson. I know you’re afraid, but everything is gonna be okay.”
“You don’t know that! No one can know that.”
“Pass me the knife.”
“Why can’t I just end it all?” she cries harder. I thought she was getting better. I thought something changed in her. Maybe I was wrong. Judging by the scene unfolding in front of me, I was dead wrong.
“You wanna know why? Because I need you here, Pierson.”
“You only need the information I have.”
“Is that what you think?” I ask her in disbelief. She drags her eyes to meet mine, and they hold there. Something slowly begins to break inside of her. Pierson lowers the knife before passing it to me. I reach for it, taking it from her before tossing it across the room. I hear it hit the wall and fall to the floor before I step even closer to her.
“I asked you a question,” I prod. “Is that what you think I want you here for?”
“I … I don’t know.”
“You’re wrong. That isn’t what I want you here for. There’s more, so much more. You’re not the only one strugglin’ here either.” She looks at me but doesn’t say anything. Her eyes hold so much sorrow and pain, but I can’t do anything to help her. She has to be able to help herself at some point.
“He was all I had,” she finally tells me.
“What was he like?”
