A Different Light

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

 

JACKSON POV:

My knee bounced vigorously as I sat in the waiting room. The nurses had taken her from me and told me I could leave. But I couldn't bring myself to abandon her, not without knowing at least who she was. Just then an older lady in scrubs approached me,

“Are you the young man who brought in the girl?” She asked. I nodded my head, absolutely speechless. She ushered for me to follow her down a hallway. After a few turns she pushed past a door and into a small room. The walls were plain white with inspirational quotes posted around. The girl had the TV on to some BS news station. She looked so lost and abused, like a puppy. I felt a weird connection to this girl, something pulled me to her. She looked up when I came in, the nurse nodded to me and left the room. I had no idea what to say, I just ran my fingers through my hair. after a solid minute of silence, she finally spoke.

“Thank you,” She whispered, i almost didn't  hear it. She threw her gaze out the window and wouldn't look at me.

“I know when you first came over I said I didn't need any help, but I guess i was wrong, sometimes I do need help.” She choked out, tears welling up in her eyes. I walked to her side and grabbed her hand. Her eyes widened in horror but relaxed once she looked at me.

“What’s your story?” I asked her

“My story? Well, I come from the Bronx. My father left my mother and I when he found out she was pregnant with my brother. My mom worked as a seamstress for a really long time. She was the best. Everyone went to her, she was loved by all. Then one night, she went out on a delivery, the guy ordered two dresses but my mom only had one done. Her fingers were raw from working on the dresses. The guy was so angry he dissed her name every chance he got. Word got out that she didn't  finish a job and everything went to hell. Regulars stopped coming by, people stopped being nice and my mother lost her job. Everything fell apart on us. I tried picking up the pieces. I quit school as a senior and started work in a factory, but the bills kept piling up, soon enough I had to get another job, but with the hours I worked at the factory, no one wanted me. Thats when a guy from the streets approached me with a job offer at his stripp club. He told me how much I would be paid and I couldn't refuse. Every night I would work and when I got home I would feel so dirty. My family began to look at me differently. Thats when my mother found Jarry and it looked like there was light at the end of the tunnel. He was good to us, provided food, but no love. Soon into their relationship he began to hit my mother, physically and verbally abuse her. Then one night she tried to leave him, packed a bag and everything. My brother and I were standing outside waiting for her. We could hear shouting from inside the house. Then a gunshot. He killed my mother. A few days later he was locked up and my brother was left in my custody. I raised him till he was able to leave the Bronx to go to college. And me, I went back to stripping just to get him through college. Now, life isn't too good. I'm by myself just scraping by to pay the bills.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, I could see the pain she went through. My heart hurt for her. Here I was making millions of dollars, while she was scraping the bottom of the barrel.

“Yesterday I got evicted, the guy told me to take as much as I could carry and the rest would make up the money I owed him. I had no where so I worked my shift and stayed the night there. Thats when Vince found me and took me brought me into his car. Then you came in and here we are now. Thats why you don't trust anyone or let anyone help, because they just end up hurting you”

I looked at her face, no makeup, just plain, natural. She had gone through so much while I lived the high life. She had given so much while the world took more. I held her in my arms and rubbed her back to let her know I wasn't going to hurt her. I pulled away and smiled at her. She took a breath and relaxed into the bed.