TW: abuse, swearing ————————————

Erin hid under her bed, stifling sobs. She heard his footsteps nearing, his hands shuffling on the walls. “Where ya hiding Erin?” He sniffed. “Git OUT!” Erin whimpered and heard him chuckle. His boots came in her room. “Got ya!” He looked under the wrong bed. It was her chance. Erin slid out from the bed and snuck to the door. Halfway there, he started running for her. Erin screamed as he grabbed her wrist. “Pa, please!” Erin sobbed. “Let me go!” He slapped her cheek. “Don’t fucking tell me what to do!” “HELP! Someone-“ Erin started to scream but was stifled by her father’s hand. He pulled her head close to his mouth, his hot breath in her ear. “There’s no one to help you here little bitch,” he whispered. Erin bit her father’s hand and ran for it. He bolted after her as she got to the door, raging. Erin grabbed the knob and ran through, but was pulled back by her father’s hand around her ankle. Her face landed straight in mud as rain poured over her. Erin kicked him off and stood up, running through the storm. She knocked on his door, makeup smeared, her cheek throbbing, and teeth chattering as she waited. And Ben answered, his face going from tired to concerned. “Erin?” Ben whispered. “H-hey,” Erin choked out, her voice tight from crying. “Can I stay here for a while?” Ben stood at the door, astonished. “Oh shit. W-what happened?” He asked, scooting her inside. “Home,” “Come up to my room.” Ben looked at his best friend. What did she mean her “home” happened? “Do you want to take a shower?” He asked, steering her to his jack and jill bathroom. Sneaking into Leina’s room as to not wake her up, he grabbed Erin a shirt and matching pajama pants as she bathed. “Here,” he said, sliding his hand under the door, giving her the clothes. A few minutes later, Erin came out with her hair in matching pigtail braids and Leina’s pjs. “Thank you.” She whispered. This was not the Erin Ben knew. The outgoing, silly friend he’d grown to like. Something was definitely wrong. “What actually happened,” Ben said, sitting down with her on his sofa. “Nothing alright?!” Erin snapped, hurting Ben’s feelings. “Oh my fucking god.” Ben whispered. “It was him as wasn’t it? Your dad is a freaking asshole.” Her head fell on Ben’s shoulder, asleep, not even hearing his turmoil of anxiety. The bell rang as Erins third period ended. She walked to the lunchroom and ran into Sebastian and his loser friends. “Hey weirdo,” he smirked, eyeing the bruise on her cheek “Did I do that, or are you that clumsy?” The toadies laughed at his pathetic joke. Erin stood, silent, not in the mood for this. “Never mind, why do I care? You’ll get a matching one today.” Sebastian laughed, grabbing the cuff of her shirt. Even though she was a head shorter than him, the fire in her eyes burned. “Go ahead. You won’t ruin your chances to get into Princeton University on me.” Erin challenged. “Hey shut it!” He said, winding up his fist. Erin punched his nose,swift and quick, his squeak of fury comedic. Sebastian touched his nose as he let go of Erin, looking at the blood on his finger. “You’ll pay for that bubblebitch!” Erin laughed sarcastically. His old nickname for her, when they dated. “Yeah I bet booboy!” She laughed over her shoulder. “What were you thinking?” Ben asked. “He’s literally gonna kill you for that Erin!” “He won’t.” Erin rolled her eyes. “Why not? Because-“ “Because he called me bubblebitch.” Ben looked at her. “W-what? What did you reply to that?” “I called him booboy.” Ben laughed dryly. “Really? That sounds like 9th grade all over again.” “No, I’m not gonna date him again. Remember last time?” Ben shuddered. “The time he tried to drown you while he was drunk? Yeah, I remember. You still haven’t thanked me for helping you out.” “Ha ha.” Erin said sarcastically. “Thank you for jumping in Micheal Deeners pool during his birthday bash and ripping my drunk boyfriend off me.” “Of course.” Ben smiled, bowing like he was the host of a game show. “Speaking of parties, you wanna go to one later?” Erin asked. “Trent Smith is throwing a rager at his beachside mansion. Sebastian probably will be there, but hot college kids will too.” She elbowed him knowingly. “You know what?” Ben sighed. “Why not? Life couldn’t get crazier.” “No f-ing way!! Is my boring little twin brother going to be social?!?” Leina giggled. Ben rolled his eyes. “You can’t call me little! I’m the one with a license here!” “Fine fine fine!” Leina smiled, turning to her closet. “You almost ready?” “Don’t laugh!” Erin said to Ben, completely ignoring Leina. Slowly creaking the door open she came out. “Ta-da!” She grinned, wearing a short silky teal dress that made her look much taller than her height at 5”0. “You look… so cool.” Ben blushed. Erin turned to the stairs. “Now let’s get out of here before your mom realizes we’re drinking and partying the night away!” Ben laughed. “Oh fuck yeah!” Erin whooped out the car window. Ben hopped out of the car, wearing church clothes because he didn’t usually do parties like this. Erin touched his cheek and he felt a tingle of joy throughout his body. “There’s something on your.. oh! Got it!” Erin said. “Have fun!” “Wait! You’re not staying with me?” Ben worried. Erin laughed. “You want to head to a bar with me? I thought you hated drinking!” “I-um I- “ Ben sighed. “I guess I’ll be… somewhere then?” “Let’s meet at the beach in an hour.” Erin called over her shoulder. “See ya!” ——— Erin pushed through the rager until she smelled wine. Surprisingly, a friendly face was operating the bar. “Spence!” Erin called as he turned to her. “How are you?” “Erin! Hey there! I’m doin fine!” Spencer looked down at the counter. “Your usual?” Erin nodded. “I can’t believe..” she heard coming from the beach. Ooh a fight? Erin thought, her mind wondering as she walked down the stairs to the beach. “It was just a stupid pep rally!” Sebastian scoffed. “It’s not that deep!” Ooh good, Leina’s gonna get beat up. Erin thought, rubbing her hands together She deserves it after stealing my boyfriend. “I don’t care! You promised! Promises mean that you’ll do it, and I put my trust in you! That’s what matters!” Leina yelled back. “I’m done with this!” Sebastian said, walking away. “Wait,“ Leina said, touching his shoulder.“Please just promise-“ “Hey!” Sebastian growled at her, grabbing her wrist tightly. “Don’t tell me what to do!” Erin shut her eyes. Isn’t that what Pa always said? As much as Erin wanted to see it, she couldn’t let Ben’s sister get beat by her ex. “Sebastian, leave her alone alright?” Erin shouted, stepping forward from the crowd. “All she wants to do is make up. If you couldn’t tell, then I guess you are as dumb as you look!” Sebastian whipped his head around, steaming. “I’m dumb!?” “I’m not the one who tried to drown my ex!” Erin shot right back. Dozens of oohs came from the quite large crowd around the three. “I’ll show you who’s dumb!” Sebastian smirked as he threw Leina to the ground and ran at Erin. Erin cracked her knuckles. This, she thought. This is gonna be fun. Ben stood in the crowd, looking lost. He never liked Sebastian, no matter how hard he tried to make him. “Sebastian, leave her alone, alright!?” Ben heard, coming from the opposite side of the circle surrounding Sebastian and Leina. Ben barely heard exactly what else the voice said as he kept trying to place it. Though as Sebastian threw Ben’s sister to the ground, he saw a glimpse of purple streaks of hair from the challenger and immediately knew it was Erin. “Oh shit!” Ben said as he realized Sebastian threw his sister to the ground! “Leina!” He said, leaning against his sister. “W-what happened?” “Sebastian didn’t go to the pep rally.” She said, massaging her wrist. “Yeah I know that.” Ben said, shaking his head. “What about Erin? Why was she involved?” Leina rolled her eyes at Ben. “You’re so obsessed with her! Anyway, I’m- well I don’t know why she’d help me, because I’m not her favorite person.” “Hey I’m not obsessed with her! She’s my best friend.” Ben looked up to see how the fight was going. He looked up just to catch a punch in the face from Sebastian’s friend Jesse. Bens eyes aggressively watered, and he tenderly touched the bridge of his nose, wincing. “What was that for!?” Leina yelled, standing up. “Leave my brother out of this at least!” Jesse slurred, touching her cheek. “Whyy don’t you shut up your pretty facccee and let your chhheating hotttie deall with your problemsss?” Leina stood there in shock and disgust, pushing Jesse’s hand away and turned to Ben, her face so white she looked like a ghost. “Cheating..?” She whispered, her shock turning to rage. “CHEATING!? SEBASTIAN-“Shh!” Ben putting a finger to her mouth. “I don’t think he’s in the mood to… talk.” But what Ben really wanted to say was, ‘I don’t want him to hurt you.’ “Ohhhh, my sssweet!” Jesse smiled, holding Leina’s hand in his as he talked. “Stop it Jesse!” Ben said, standing up. “Go get some water, or better yet, GO HOME.” “Wow,” Jesse growled, pulling Ben close to him. “I love a man who tells me what to dooo!” “Oh HELL NO!” Ben yelled, trying to pull away. “I’m not gay bro!” “But you’d be better that wayyy! Stooop wasting your time on… what’sherface…oh, Erica, when you could have me instead!” Jesse droned on, still holding Ben and curling his hair with his fingers. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Leina holding in a laugh. The next time he tried to escape Jesse’s grasp, he slipped out. Oh thank fucking God. Ben thought, exhaling an unpleasant breath. “Bye,” Ben said. Now time to deal with my best friend’s ex and sister’s boyfriend. Sebastian flew a punch at Erin’s face, her slender build easily avoiding. She ran behind him and jumped up on his back. Though it did come as a surprise to him, she weighed far too little to push him down. He leaned back, falling on the floor and crushing her under him. Erin cried out in pain but rolled out and looked at her opponent. “Go easy on me now will ya?” Erin scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Are you trying at all?” Sebastian boiled. “Could you learn to shut up your shitty mouth? You’re getting annoying.” “Getting? Aw, you still love me. Sorry but it’s just a little too late, after the fact you’re dating someone and all.” “Oh my fucking god.” Sebastian growled. “You don’t know when to quit. All you want is to keep fighting other people, not just me. Why don’t you get that nobody cares about you!” Erin went silent, staring him dead in the face. “Anything else?” “What are you hiding under all that violence? Low self-esteem? A broken heart? Bad home life?” Erin stiffened up, her eyes darting around. Sebastian rose his left eyebrow with curiosity after his last question. “Oooh, the bad girl has daddy issues! Ha-“ Erin ran at Sebastian and pushed him down, doing it easily. “Stop Erin! I-I think Seb gets it.” Ben’s voice came from behind, his hands in front of him, reaching out for her. Erin grabbed his shirt, pulling his face up to hers. “Now just keep your ego down, shut up your ass and leave us alone, alright?” Erin kissed his cheek, giving him a smirk. “Now run along, booboy.”

🩵 Word limit!!! Wow 🤩

I was trying to be what you wanted But nothing ever quite does it I work myself to my bone But still my love is unrequainted I milked myself of blood and tears But still you didn’t seem to care

I was trying to be what you wanted Now I’m somebody nobody wants

“I was just trying to be what you wanted!” She screamed, crying. “The person you needed to be.. wasn’t who you became. You became selfish, conceded, hateful, vengeful. What I wanted was peace. What you became was strife. Chaos. You were insatiable! That’s not what I wanted! I…”. My voice cracked as I held back the tears, “I wanted… I NEEDED someone I could rely on!”

“Did I not protect you? Did I not send them all away for you? For us?” She screamed at me.

“You did it for yourself! Not for me!” I shrieked.

Her face turned dark, “myself? MYSELF?! you think I wanted them gone?! You think I wanted to be alone?! Do you really think that after all the HELL I went through.. do you think that was for me?! NO!!! IT WAS ALL FOR YOU! For your safety, for your happiness! I sacrificed myself for you, and this is the thanks I get?!”

She was fuming, I get that she believes what she did was right. But she was too blind to see that it hurt me. That it’s still hurting me.

“You think I wanted THIS?! Look at this!” I gestured around us, “you did this! Do you think this is good? Do you think this is right?! That this is justice?! Know what I see? I see the people I love, gone! I see my life burned down to the ground! And it’s all because of YOU!” I pointed at her; my anger burned throughout my body, it’s the first time I’ve ever felt anger like this. I hated her.

I hated everything she was. Her face, her eyes, her voice, her body. I hated the way her hair landed on her face. I wanted her gone. Forever.

She snickered at me, looking away then back. “Youre joking, right? YOU BEGGED ME TO HELP YOU!” “I BEGGED FOR HELP, YES! BUT I NEVER ASKED YOU! YOU TOOK IT UPON YOURSELF TO DO WHAT YOU DID!” I snapped back. “Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that, because at any time you could have stopped me. But you wanted what I did, done. You wanted them gone.”

I shook my head, “not like this. This isn’t what I wanted. I wanted them gone, yes. But you took things too far! This?! This is excessive. This is..”

“Say it.” She said, her eyes narrowed like a predator looking at its prey. “Say. It.” The words escaped her lips like daggers.

“It’s… inhuman.” I said. Ashamed. As though I were the one who had done this.

Her manic laughing made my blood run cold. Her head began to roll, as her eyes fluttered in pleasure

“Perhaps your right.” She snapped her head back suddenly. “Maybe I took things too far. But I did what needed to be done. You can put me away, play the victim to those who ask about what happened here. Do what you do best. And I’ll wait until you decide you need me again.”

“Oh, no. Please. Don’t do me any favors!” I said mockingly. “I only wanted protection. But you… you always take things too far.” I leaned forward, getting as close to her as I could. “I was better off without you to begin with. You aren’t needed anymore and will never be needed again. So go ahead, hide away. Because you will forever be in the dark. You’ll be locked away, in a cage; and the key…” her eyes were filled with fear, “the key will be thrown away.”

I blinked and she was gone. I stared into the mirror of my bedroom. It was trashed. I grabbed my things and walked out the front door; leaving behind the brutal scene my other self created. They were all dead. Every single one of them. My mom, dad, three brothers and one sister. All of them, gone. Forever… just like Katherine. My other self… my true self.

Growing up was constantly Swimming With no gills In a pool of ice water Always moving Pursuing The label of Your perfect daughter You love me, you applaud me You know that I’m smart But what happens when Miss perfect Stops playing her part? Will you still adore me If about me You can no longer brag? If I start speaking my mind? Waving a more colorful flag? If I center my values Instead of padding your pride? Would you say it’s fine But then subtly Toss me aside? I know you like us To lay low Avoid making a racket But now your little girl Is trapped In the tightest straitjacket Your expectations linger Unsaid Like trash in the sea So I don’t know if it’s you Maybe it’s just me But a pressure unsaid Doesn’t make it unfelt So no matter the source I must untangle The knot I’ve been dealt   You love me Unconditionally   I think   But I wish You would say it   Overtly   I need proof How hard is it? Come on please set me free!   Say that you’ll love me the same If you can’t brag about me

i honestly hate this one so feel free to ignore it

she said i was too short for the picture too tall for my boyfriend. he says i eat too much but when i cut back, my parents force more food in my mouth. mom says that she loves me no matter the grade and switches up at the sight of a 75%. why does nothing i do end well for me? i was just trying to be what they wanted..

Do you want me to be a cheerleader? Is that the only way you’ll be interested in me? Is that the only thing you care about? Well, I’m sorry that it’s not going to happen. I’m me, and that’s good enough for me.

I wish you were more like you used to be before cheer became your life. Don’t you remember that you were interested in stories? You used to write amazing stories about animals that seemed so real they almost felt like my friends. Remember Gussy?!! Wow. You made Gussy get into so many hilarious situations. Why did you stop writing?!?

Loriene

“I was just trying to be what you wanted—“

My mother slaps me across my face, sharp, a slice through the air and upon my cheek. The stinging starts after a few seconds, but I can’t seem to move my head, move any part of my body, really.

“How dare you embarrass me! HOW DARE YOU!” My mother grabs my face between her hand, nails pressing against the softer parts of it.

“Mother,” I sob, “I’ll try harder next time—I’ll train my magick harder, I swear!”

“Shut up, child,” she hisses, letting go of me and shoving me against the wall. She snatches my training wand and holds it between the fingers on both of her hands.

My ears widen as I reach for my only treasure, a show of my worth. “MOTHER!”

She snaps my wand in halve.

So precisely.

Without wariness.

I stare as she drops the halves to the ground. The ancient wood crumbling to dust from the loss of its magick.

My mother walks away, leaving me there, her heels clicking with the swish of her skirts. “Women shouldn’t have magick anyway, makes them improper. I’ll talk to your father later; pack up and say your goodbyes to everyone.”

The door shuts, like the sealing of a grave. My cheek finally spreads the pain, bringing me to tears. My wand…my wand.

I’m nothing without my magic—nothing. Just a female to be tossed around and around, by people who thought they were greater, more worthy.

How ironic, the man of my family wanted me to grow, to become powerful in the skill of magick. But my mother never wanted me to, only if it stained her reputation anyway.

How horrible. How cruel.

“What monster gave birth to my mother,” I whisper into the chilling silence, “And am I a monster too?”

(YAYAY! More Living Is A Strange Thing lore for meee! Yes, this is Rayburn’s aunt’s (one of his aunts) “backstory” of sorts. You know her if you read that one thingy, or two, that I featured her in.

Thanks for reading and have a good day!)

I was just trying to be whatever you wanted.

That was how it started, and somehow, it was still where I found myself. Caught in a loop, a constant battle between who I was and who I was supposed to be—at least in your eyes. And for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why that mattered so much. But it did. More than I wanted to admit.

When we first met, you seemed so certain of everything. You had a way of seeing the world that was both admirable and terrifying, like you had everything figured out. It was magnetic, the way you carried yourself, so sure of every decision, so unwavering in your beliefs. I envied that about you. It made me feel small, but also, it made me want to be better, to reach for something greater.

So I tried.

I tried to shape myself into what I thought you wanted. It started with the little things—changing the way I dressed, the way I talked. I’d catch myself mid-sentence, trying to tailor my words to fit your expectations, to be more aligned with the person I thought you’d respect. I laughed at the jokes I didn’t find funny, agreed with opinions that didn’t sit right with me.

But it wasn’t just about pretending. It was about trying to actually become that person. I buried parts of myself, locked them away in some dark corner, hoping you wouldn’t notice if they ever tried to surface. I wasn’t even sure if you would have cared, but the fear that you might was enough to keep me in line.

And for a while, it worked. We were happy, or at least you were. I became good at this role I had created, wearing it like a second skin. But it wasn’t me. Not really. I could feel the weight of it, the cracks forming beneath the surface. The more I tried to be what you wanted, the less I recognized myself.

I started to lose things, little bits of who I used to be. Friends drifted away, people who didn’t fit into the mold of this new life. Hobbies that once brought me joy fell to the wayside, replaced by the things you liked, the things that made sense in your world. I convinced myself it was a small price to pay for keeping you close.

But the more I gave up, the more I started to resent you. Not outwardly, of course. I couldn’t afford that. But inside, where all the things I’d buried began to fester. I wanted to hate you, to blame you for everything I’d lost. But the truth was, I did it to myself. You never asked me to change. Not once. It was all in my head, this fear of not being enough, of not living up to your standards.

Eventually, it started to show. The facade cracked, and I couldn’t keep up with the person I was pretending to be. I became distant, withdrawn, afraid that you’d see the real me and realize how different I was from the person you thought you knew. I was scared that you’d leave, but even more scared that you wouldn’t, that you’d stay and I’d be trapped in this lie forever.

One night, it all came crashing down. We were sitting in our living room, the silence between us heavier than it had ever been. I couldn’t take it anymore. The words spilled out of me before I could stop them, a flood of confessions and apologies, of truths I had kept hidden for too long. I told you everything—how I’d been pretending, how I wasn’t who you thought I was, how much I hated myself for it.

For a long time, you didn’t say anything. You just sat there, staring at me with a look I couldn’t read. I thought it was over, that this was the moment you’d finally walk away. But then you did something I didn’t expect. You reached out, took my hand in yours, and said the one thing I never saw coming.

“I never wanted you to be anything but yourself.”

It was such a simple statement, but it shattered everything I’d built up in my mind. All the fear, all the self-doubt, it suddenly seemed so small, so insignificant. You weren’t the one with the expectations. I was. I had put them on myself, twisted myself into knots trying to live up to a standard that didn’t even exist.

In that moment, I realized how much of my life I’d wasted trying to be someone I wasn’t. And for what? To gain your approval? To feel worthy of your love? It wasn’t worth it. None of it was.

I wish I could say that everything changed after that night, that I suddenly found myself and we lived happily ever after. But it wasn’t that simple. It took time—time to unlearn all the things I’d forced upon myself, time to figure out who I really was beneath all the layers of pretense.

But I’m trying. Every day, I’m trying to be a little more honest with myself, a little more accepting of who I am. And you’ve been there through it all, patient and understanding in a way I didn’t know was possible.

I was just trying to be whatever you wanted. But now, I’m just trying to be me. And for the first time, that feels like enough.

It was a relatively good day for the a math test, easygoing. Maybe today I could do better, hopefully. Mrs. Rich began handing out the papers, giving words of encouraemt to my class mates around me. Then she got to me. She gave a gentle smirk, with a thousand meanings behind it. “ Good luck Alexandra. You’ll definaintly need it.” Before I could answer, she whipped wround and cat walked back to her desk.

I looked at my classmates around me, easily scribbling things down on their papers. It was like they were drawing a beautiful mural across a brightly colored paper. I looked dowm to see MY colorful paper, but it wasnt there. Rather, I was met with equations so simple it shouldve been easier than moving your own fingers. But it was like gibberish to me. The teacher looked up at me. Wait no, DOWN at me, from her desk. She snarked, rolling her eyes and looking back at her computer. I could feel tears well in my eyes. It hurt alot.

Look at me now. You’re probably sick of me now, aint you ‘teach? Im gonna make you look so ridiculous now!

It was time to turn in our papers. Everyone was called up by name, obviously me last, due to my last name starting with a W. “.. and finally..” My heart had never felt so broken. So squeezed dry. But this was a normal every werk school math test, but no matter how many times it could happen, the familiar feeling of being ashamed of failing could never leave me. “.. Alexandra, step up.” Mrs Rich called to me, adjusting her glasses to directly stare into my hopeless eyes. All my classmates knew my problem, and yet they all in unison went silent, some staring after me, some whispering. My bottom lip quivered as I handed her my paper, blank. She didnt even look at the back to see if I did anything. She loudly expressed her concerns for me, and sent me back to my seat. The voices were loud again around me. “ Free time for everybody until im done grading these!” Mrs Rich exclaimed.

My whole life in this class I was made to be known as sick in the head when I wasnt.. __ __ After a few minutes, she called us all back. We all sat down as she gave us a small talk on how well some of us did. .. then it was my turn to be talked about. “ .. But ONE of you didnt seem to study hard enough..” She walked by my desk, tapping it very clearly in front of the class. Then help me! Stop making fun of me! __ I thought, yearning for someone to vouch for me. But no one said a word.

“ You need to try a little harder in math class, Alexandra..” My mom explained in the car.

Around this time she didnt know what was really happening. __ __ We got home, my eyes heavy, but not with sleep. With tears that lapped over my skin, now down like waterfalls as I nonchalantly slipped into my room. Why is it so hard to try to care when no one will help me?!

**“ I just want to be what you wanted me to ** be.”

These events still hurt me sometimes.

“I was just trying to be what you wanted,” I said. “That’s why you actually liked me back then. Because I didn’t say anything, or do anything, that could potentially piss you off. I’ve stopped walking on eggshells around you, so now you realize that you have no control over me.”

I stepped forwards. “I was scared. I’m not scared anymore. I will tell the entire world what he did to me because I didn’t deserve it. I never did. So you can either stand behind me, or you can fall in front of me. I can’t make that choice for you. I’m done lying just to protect his name and your name.”

Blake stared at me, apparently rendered speechless. I looked over at Ani, who was wearing a proud smile.

“And that,” she said, shifting sassily on her hip. “Is on period. All she spoke were facts.”

I looked back to Blake, who seemed to have finally regained his voice.

“Castleton,” he said, his voice tired. “I didn’t have proof.”

“But you knew.” I cut him off. “You knew what he did to me.”

“I had an idea-“

“And you chose to protect his name instead of being there for me. I was fourteen years old! That’s fucked up.”

I looked at Ani again. She jutted her chin up.

“So everyone will know his name,” she said, anger lacing her voice. “I could’ve easily been protected from him if he was locked up, rotting away in a jail cell. But instead I suffered. Your sister suffered. And who knows how many other girls suffered because of him.”

“Girls-“

“I don’t give a shit about your reputation, Blake,” I snapped. “I don’t give a shit about OUR reputation. He’s turned his eyes onto Nathaniel and I will be DAMNED if he even lays one fucking finger on him.”

I leaned in, placing my hands firmly on the desk as I stared my brother in the eyes. “I didn’t have anyone to protect me. But I will protect Nathan. Because I know you won’t.”

I stood up, and Ani looped her arm in mine as we turned away, walking towards the door. I heard Blake call my name behind me, but I kept walking. I had a mission. And I was going to take down the motherfucker who took my innocence at 14. I was going to make sure the world knew his name. And I was going to make sure that Hell had a VIP spot reserved for him when he got there.

And I was going to make sure my baby brother didn’t feel the pain that I did.

Ani had a little skip to her step as we headed to her car. I felt a smile tug at my face.

“You ready?” She asked, looking at me.

I couldn’t stop the grin this time. “Fuck yeah. I’ve been ready.”