Architect of paradise (PART I: Out of the Ruins)

18. Decisions

I am so angry and scared that I can't go calm myself down. I was so close to open up to him but he took down every progress we did. I make some coffee and set up the fire in the fireplace. I cover myself with a thin blanket and with the cup of black coffee I sit on the sofa. While I look at the flames, my eyes tear up. The sadness wins over my anger.

Why am I like this? I was not like that in the past. I was so energetic and strong. I was a pain in the ass but now I am so weak and sensitive that I disgust myself. Up until my nineteen, I was a troublemaker. I was like Simon Spencer. I myself was a bully and people like Justin were my victims. 

     However, I am the victim now. It is like I lost a part of my soul. I hate this. Alicia tries all the time to encourage me. She tries really hard to remind me how I was but that self now is lost in the deepest parts of my abyssal soul. It took only a person to wreck me. My strength was only an illusion that fell apart so easily. I built up an useless paper wall that tired up so easily. I was angry with myself and I was angry with Daniel. I was angry with the whole world.

Of course, we don't meet up in the mornings any more. I am in a bad mood and Lily avoids asking me about what happened. It is better that way. I don't want to talk. I just need to focus on my job and on New Leaf. I don't need drama in my life. That's what I want, but life never fulfills your wishes.

While I am walking back home, I happen to see some teenagers to gang up on another teenager boy. It is in a more isolated area out of the town in my way to my home. They threaten him and hit him. They force him to give them money. I want to help but the violence, I am watching, is scaring me. They are strong boys and I am a weak woman. I can't help him. I take my phone out but who can I call? I tighten my hands.

-"You over there!!! Stop right now!!!" I yell and I attract their attention. They turn their heads. Oh! One of them is Simon Spencer.

-"What are you doing?" I yell again. I see their ugly expressions. They are annoyed.

-"None of business, woman!" yells back one of them. He seems older than the others.

-"Get away from him, or I call the police." I say to them and they start to laugh.

-"Oh, really?" They laugh at me.

-"Mr. Spencer, do you want to have trouble with your parents?" I threaten Simon. Is the only way I can think of. He seems irritated but he talks with the others. They click their tongue and they leave.

I approach the beaten boy. I don't recognize him, but he lives in Green Hill. I help him get up and I take him to the clinic. It is not my shift today but I need to take care of him.

  Dr. Herman is surprised seeing the boy hurt.

-"Johnny my dear, what happened to you?" He asks.

-"I found him hurt, Dr. Herman." The doctor sighs and starts to treat him. The boy looks at me. I don't know what to do.

-"Addie my dear, can you help me?" Dr. Herman asks. I was distracted for a moment. Then, I help him to treat the boy.

While he is going to his office to call boy's parents, I talk to Johnny. I want to know what exactly happened and why he was the target of the other boys.

-"Because I am weak. My parents have some money and they think I can give them money. I can't stand against them and I can't talk to anybody. They threaten to set fire to our fields if I don't do as they say. If they really do it, my family will be destroyed." I can feel his agony.

-"Are you their only target?" I ask.

-"I don't know. There are two or three more relatively wealthy families in Green Hill. Maybe the kids of these families are their targets, too." He says. I learn their names from Johnny. But, what can I do?