I don’t want any of this.
As we reach the last step, she says, “I know all of this is new, but I want you to feel like you are part of the family.” She smiles. “I…” She stops, then turns back to me. “I grew up with nothing. Meeting William was pure luck. And since we can’t have kids of our own, we wanted to give an opportunity to kids who don’t have a home.”
I don’t say a word. I just nod.
Somehow, I tell myself this is better than Juvenile Hall. But every house like this hides secrets. People like her always do. I already know she and the judge have theirs.
We walk to the end of the hall. As we pass one of the rooms, the door is open just enough.
Just enough.
Ella is on her knees. Judas’s hand is tangled in her hair as she takes his hard cock, deep down her throat. The sound hits me before my brain can catch up.
I gasp.
Judas chuckles.
His eyes lift and lock with mine through the crack in the door. He doesn’t look surprised, not even ashamed. He pushes the door closed slowly, like he wants to make sure I understand what I saw.
As if closing it could erase the image burned into my eyes.
At this point, I need bleach for my eyeballs.
Catherine doesn’t even notice. She is already opening the door next to it, far too excited.
“This is your room,” she says as she steps inside. “What do you think?”
The room is bigger than the dining hall back at Juvenile Hall.
I clear my throat. Ella’s mouth, Judas’s grip, the sound of it all still replay in my head.
“Yeah,” I say. “Lovely.” I smile.
“Simona said you didn’t have any clothes,” she adds as she slowly backs toward the door. “I took the liberty of getting you some.”
I nod and walk to the bed. When I sit, I sink into white sheets.
“Thanks,” I say.
She nods and closes the door behind her.
I lie back and shut my eyes.
Sometimes the road takes you somewhere you didn’t choose. Not the path you want, but the one you need. At least, that is what I keep telling myself.
“This is fine,” I whisper. “You will be fine.”
1.I don’t care, crazy.
2.No, little sister… no.
TWO
CARMEN
My eyes are closed, and I am lying in the middle of the bed, sinking into it. Somehow, I feel like I am floating. The doors are locked. I can hear the murmur of voices behind me, but I ignore them. My ears are buzzing. I turn onto my side and bury my face in the sheets.
My hands are in front of my head, a hair tie wrapped around my wrists. As I slowly exhale, I lift it and let it snap against my skin.
