I sniffled. “I might as well. You already heard it.”
She turned to me, giving me her full attention. “Did you really murder her son?”
I nodded. “That man raped me from ages fourteen to seventeen. He told me if I ever said anything, he’d make sure the same thing happened to my little sisters. I had to protect them. They were too young to have their innocence stolen by some nasty ass, perverted man. I just…I couldn’t take it anymore. I told him no, and he tried to attack me. For the first time, I fought back. I grabbed a pair of scissors, and I stabbed him—only I couldn’t stop. Stopping meant I had to keep enduring that pain, and I couldn’t do that.
“I spent ten years of my life in prison paying for his death. My named was ruined because of his family and my own mother. They painted me out to be this sexual deviant. They got on that stand and told that jury I was promiscuous, and I’d been trying to get that man to sleep with me. They wanted to call it a crime of passion because I stabbed him twenty-six times. Overkill, they said. I caught a manslaughter charge. Ain’t that a bitch? I was his victim for three—nearly four years—and he’s the one getting justice.”
Just thinking about it again fueled my anger. I wish I had punched that old bitch dead in her mouth. Londyn stared at me for a moment before reaching out and grabbing my hand.
“Good for you for protecting yourself and your sisters when no one else could or would. You have nothing to be ashamed of, Alayah. Your story is one so many women share. Some of them never get out alive. I’m so sorry you had to go through that and even more sorry that you were punished for it.”
She pulled me into her arms and hugged me tightly. I sat frozen for a moment before I finally hugged her back. I needed that more than she knew. Her energy felt sincere, and I could see why my uncle encouraged me to be friendly with her. The way she stood up for me with no hesitation spoke volumes to her character.
Maybe I did need a friend after all.
Chapter 10
Killian
Age Seventeen
Ispotted Alayah at her locker as I strolled the hallsbefore second period. I’d had a test in myfirst-period class, and thanks to studying with her, I’d aced it. I slapped hands with a few ofmy friends as I made my way toward her. Shewas just standing there, looking in the locker like she’d lost something. Sneaking up behind her, I poked herside, causing her to jump.
“Hey, pretty girl—”
“Don’tdo that,” she snapped, “and don’t call me that.”
She looked at me with angry eyes, confusing me. Wehad a playful relationship. She’d always laugh at myattempts to scare her, but today…today seemed different.
“I’m—I’m sorry. I was just playing around likewe always do.”
“Well, I don’t feel like playingtoday.”
She grabbed her history book and slammed her lockershut before storming off down the hall. I stood therefor a moment before going after her. I caught heron the empty stairwell, gently grabbing her arm. She jerkedaway and pushed me.
“Don’t touch me!”
I raisedmy hands in surrender and took a step back. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing is wrong with me. Ijust don’t want you touching me. I’m tiredof people touching me without my permission.”
My brows furrowed. “Who touched you without your permission?”
“Nobody. I just…It’s nothing.”
“You know you can trust me, Layah. Youknow that, right?”
Her pretty brown eyes pooled with tearsas they met mine. She slumped against the wall andcollapsed to the floor in a fit of tears. Fora moment, I stood there, not knowing what to do.Dropping my backpack, I took a seat beside her andpulled her into my arms. We were late to secondperiod that day.
She never elaborated on what she meant. She never spoke on it again. In fact, when I saw her during study hall, she seemed to be in good spirits. She was laughing and talking like she hadn’t broken down in my arms earlier. I wanted to ask her if everything was okay, and when I did, she told me she was just emotional because she was on her period. She apologized for spazzing on me and asked me to forget about it.
I hadn’t forgotten about it though. I beat myself up about that shit for the longest. If I’d just said something…if I’d just made her tell me what was going on, maybe she could have gotten the help she needed.
I sat back at my desk, thinking about Alayah. She’d been an ever-present thought since seeing her at the mechanic shop. By now, she was settling in at her new job. I prayed that she had a happy, healthy, and smooth transition back into civilian life. Still, I couldn’t seem to shake her.
Two weeks had gone by, and she hadn’t used my number. I mean, I never expected her to, but I was hopeful. I was trying to give her space like Kadeem and my mama told me to, but it was like an itch I couldn’t scratch. I wanted to see her…Ihadto see her.
Standing from my desk, I left my office and headed down the hall to Erica’s. I gave a light tap, and she gave permission for me to open the door.
