er

nd me. It echoed off the high ce

lms woke my paralyzed brain. Growing up in the slums, physical pain

ale. I stepped forward in my four-inch heels,

d away from me like I was a walking plague

elt like walking barefoot on shattered glass. My father used to beat me for crying. I l

gleam flashed in her eyes. She tilted her head, signaling h

Just as I walked past her, she kicked her leg out.

d to Chace. I did

the solid heel of her shoe.

. My bare knees crashed into the solid ma

spine. I bit down on my lower lip so hard I tasted ir

It turned into a roaring frenzy. I saw dozens of phone

y weight up, trying to stand. My right ankle flared with sharp

. She walked down the steps with agonizing

at me from her e

me that even the way I fell looked cheap, like a s

I lifted my chin and stared directly at

orced the words out. I asked him why he was do

ticked. He looked utterly annoyed by my pres

ed pockets. He looked down at me with eyes

he game was over. He told me to recognize

or him, starving for him, fighting for him.

tand up straight, wobbling slightly before locking my knees

laugh. The sound carried a c

leather shoe stopped a millimeter away from the toe of my he

my ear. He dropped his voice to a whi

mother's na

her dying in a filthy alleyway was the

Pure terror and boiling rage

He casually mentioned my father. He brought up the massiv

I dared to walk out of those double doors tonight, he woul

in front of me. I knew the shape of his jaw, the smell of his cologne, the exac

less father flashed through my mind. I knew

rom me, smoothing the lapel of his jacket. He look

down his n

place and be a