AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey,” he greeted me back as he walked in, making his way over to the bay window where I was sitting. “Hope that I’m not interrupting. I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
I shut the book and shifted my attention to him. “I’m fine, thanks for asking.”
“That’s good, then.” King nodded his head.
The air continued to be thick with an uncomfortable silence. That really shouldn’t be surprising given that we hadn’t said a word to each other ever since that day when we sparred together. I had a feeling that he was waiting to talk about it.
Phantom hands closed tightly around my neck, and I almost raised a hand to mirror the touch.
“What are you reading?” King eventually decided to break the silence and I lifted the book from my lap to show him the cover.
“The Little Prince,”he read out loud. “Do you like it?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Yeah. I know it’s mostly for kids, but it’s been my favorite for years.”
Ever since I was little, whenever I was sad, I’d find solace in the familiar pages of this book.
It was a beautiful story about a small boy who had, out of loneliness, left his tiny planet and started traveling between the stars, learning many life lessons on the way. But the ending was an unhappy one, where the little prince died for his rose — a fragile flower on his tiny planet that he fell in love with as a child and left — just so that he could be reunited with her once more.
By the end of the book, I’d have something else to be sad about, all of my previous troubles forgotten. Even as the years passed and my troubles grew larger, I still sound myself returning to this book.
“I’ve read it a few times. It’s a good book.” King sat down on the leather sofa. “ But there was actually something that Iwanted to talk to you about,” he said hesitantly. ”It’s about what happened last week.”
I had been wondering when he was going to bring it up.
He didn’t strike me as someone who’d easily just let things go.
“Are you…” he cut himself off with a slight wince. “Do you feel like…”
“I’m not suicidal if that’s what you’re asking,” I said when it became apparent that he wasn’t sure how to delicately formulate the question.
I wasn’t even lying.
I had just been curious to see how would he react, that was all.
But he didn’t look like he believed me.
I sighed and put the book down beside me. “People like us… we live our lives as though it’s our last day alive because it may as well be, right? We go out with guns and knives, and death looms over us constantly. Some would call that suicidal. But it’s our will to live that keeps us alive at the end of the day, and trust me, I’ve got that in spades.”
I picked up the book again. “So don’t bother worrying, or trying to get me a psychiatrist or something.”
The hard line of his shoulders softened. “I’ve got to admit, that’s a relief to hear,” he admitted.
I fought back a smile. I couldn’t help but find it amusing how much my jailer fretted over my mental state.
I was expecting him to leave now that his curiosity was appeased, but to my surprise, he instead reached for one of the books that was on the table.
“Do you mind if I stay here for a little while?”
“Go ahead, it’s your house.” I waved my hand in his direction.
With his attention placed on the book, I took the opportunity to just quietly observe him for a moment. I had to admit thatthis felt nice — having company and sharing the silence with someone else. After stealing another glance at him, I turned back to my book, continuing to read where I had last left off.
* * *
“Knock, knock, Blondie. Can I come in?”
I could make out Ace’s voice coming from my bedroom.
