The survivor

Chapter 9: The Light Of The Tunnel

After getting the stuff home andsetting up Marco's room again, she sat down for a bit until she heard him scream. She came running in and saw him huddled in a corner terrified so she sat down with him and held him in her arms and asked him what was wrong. Marcos shook harder and said, "I had a nightmare about dad beating me, and this time he killed my mom and you". Kayla held him and said, "it's okay Marco he can't hurt you anymore I promise".

After calming Marco down, she went into the other room to make a phone call to Marco's social worker who had agreed to help file a case against his father who was already in jail; using Marco's testimony. After a few more hours alone, Kayla finally heard the door open as Andrew came in and sat down next to Kayla. He asked her about how her day was and she told him about it all, especially Marco's trauma. Andrew nodded and said" I got this" as he yelled for Marco to come into the room and sit. I looked at Marco and said "son...your mom has told me about what's going on so we're both gonna tell you real stories from our childhood.

I told Marco all about how the kids brutally shunned me and Kayla told him all about how her father beat her and I guess he understood he wasn't alone because he came up and hugged both of us and said:" I love you, mom and dad". I sat him on my knee and said "now here's what you gotta do so listen...when those kids mess with you, you're gonna have to hold your head up high and tell them off, let them know they cannot hurt you anymore and if they come back then don't give them a response but if they touch you...well, you have my permission to knock their block off". Marco sighed and said that's not gonna work and I said it worked for me and it will for you... and if it doesn't ill just move you to another school Marco". he smiled and said "okay we'll do it your way" as he walked off into his room noticeably happier.

I smiled at Kayla and said "thank you for today and I kissed her cheek and went in the kitchen and made a special dinner and I let Marco eat in his room so we could be alone. The rest of the night I and Kayla watched a movie after she tucked Marco in; until she fell asleep herself and I carried her to bed before going myself. The next morning, I drove Marco to school to school and left after hugging him and went to work. When Marco walked into his classroom he began to feel dread in the air as the guys approached him with not-so-friendly faces but he stood his ground as his father told him and was ready for anything.

The biggest kid named Harold; approached him and said "well it looks like rag boy has come back out of hiding for more".by now the whole class was watching since the teacher was outside talking, since class hadn't started yet. The other boys began laughing until Marco stood up and said "yes I came from the slums, my parents gave no fucks about me and I had to fend for myself...my dad beat the hell outta' me just for existing but I'm still here, I'm alive, I'm trying to become better". Everyone stopped laughing as Marco stood on the desk and looked at them all and said "go on keep laughing, I've survived living with them and then an orphanage where the kids beat me and told me I wasn't shit, so there's nothing any of you can take from me anymore

"Marco teared up and said "I lost my pride when I ran away from this mess, but I'm tired of running, I just want a normal life like you all have and if I can't have that I'll leave, but when the future comes around I hope you all remember rag boy and see how good he's doing because I will never stop pushing. "Marco got up and walked out of the room as the kids began clapping and many patted him on the back on his way out. The rest of the day, Marco was treated differently; the kids greeted him and played with him and high-fived him, and asked to play with him. At recess, many other kids from outside his class came to hear tales of his survival and how he got his scars and many of them thought it was cool and he made more friends, in fact, the cutest girl in class; Angela began hanging with him.

When Marco got home he had a huge smile on his face as I sat in my chair watching tv. I grinned at him and said how'd it go" and he smiled and said "it worked dad!!" before hugging me. I smiled and said" that's my boy, now go do your homework and afterward you can play some games". When Kayla got home from work, I smiled and told her it worked and she gave me a kiss and said "good". The next couple of weeks were rough for Marco but he adjusted and his nightmares stopped and more importantly, he began to treat Kayla like a mom and she treated him like a son. She was amazing at it, and I had finally made up my mind that she was the one I wanted to be with and I decided to tell her on our date tomorrow evening.

The next day when Kayla got home, I smiled at her and said "go get dressed...I finally saved up enough for that date I promised you and your belly" she giggled and said "really" and I smiled and said, "yes, the reservations are already made and Marco is at his cousins' house for the evening since its Friday". After about an hour, she was ready and so was I, so we headed outside where a limo was waiting. I opened the door of the limo and said for you m'lady " and she screamed with excitement as we both got in and the driver took off. she looked at me and said" I can't believe you went this far just for me...I love you so much...as a friend". I grinned and mumbled, "not for long".