I Tried

ii

I refused to pack up Jamie's things not as a sign that I believed I wouldn't be taken. It was almost a way to say I wasn't completely useless. I still had some say over my life even though I knew that was a lie.

I just needed something. I waved goodbye to Jamie as I handed him off to one of the ladies at his day care and walked slowly to my car to head off to work. I just wanted a few more days of normalcy. I knew that was coming to an end but what else could I do.

I pulled up to the diner and when I climbed out of the car I grabbed my bag and closed the door. I turned and saw that black car in the same place it was been every time I came into work. I sighed before shaking my head and walked into work.

I smiled shyly at Stacy who returned it know there was nothing we could do about the inevitable. She handed me the coffee pot and pointed me to a few tables and I quickly served all of the before getting a few more people seated and served.

"How ya doing Jerry?" I asked taking out my pad even though I knew exactly what he was going to order. "I'm doing alright doll. I'll have my regular." He said handing the menu right back to me and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"There's that smile. I've been reachin for it for almost a week. Is the boy getting to that hard spot?" He asked concerned and I shook my head "No it's just been a bad week. You know how that goes. I'll go put in your order." I quickly walked away.

"Flowers for Ronnie!" The mail man Josh yelled over the loud diner. And everyone quieted down slowly and every once in a while I heard comments like "Does she finally have a special friend?" "She deserves some flowers." "Well that's beautiful."

I quickly walked up to him and smiled taking them "I'm glad for you Ronnie. You deserve a good guy after everything you've been through." He whispered handing them off to me. And I just had to smile at him and not say anything.

I took the arrangement of different colored roses before taking them to the back office. I placed them down onto the desk looking for a card or something and I found it. With a dreadful sigh and opened it.

Any hope I still had though little was gone seeing a picture of Jamie in the arms of one of the ladies at the daycare and the note saying "I can't wait to meet him. And don't worry amore mio it'll be sooner than you think."

I couldn't take it I grabbed the vase and threw it across the room into the wall screaming. And I fell to the ground in tears as I rocked back and forth holding my legs to my chest. "Lord please help me this time. I need you to protect Jamie from this monster."

I kept repeating this until I heard the door open slowly and glass crackling under someone's foot. "My sweet girl." I heard the sad voice of Stacy say as she came closer to me. I went to stand up but when I put my hand down of course I put it right on a huge stop hard of glass.

I hissed falling back down and holding it in pain. "Oh don't get up. Here I'll grab the first aid kit." She said quickly walking over to her desk pulling it out of the drawer. She quickly fixed it up and neither of us said anything and it was kind of just nice and calm.

When she was finished she wrapped it up in a towel and tied to. "Can I look at the card?" She asked hoping not to set me off again. I nodded slowly and shrugged I mean what would it matter.

She gasped slightly as soon as she looked at the picture and her jaw clenched when she got through the whole note. "What if you guys stayed at mine for a few nights. I mean if anything that gives you a few days."

I shook my head and smiled at her attempt of a solution. "I love you but all that would do is put you in danger. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I knew something happened to you because you were trying to help me. You've already done so much for me."

I held her hand and she smiled tearing up before she sat down next to me and pulled me into a hug. And we just sat like this for maybe half an hour. Hopefully the girls out front were doing alright but I really couldn't stand up, I was just so tired

"How about you go pick up Jamie early and have dinner here tonight with me?" She suggested pulling away from me just a little bit. "Is it ok if I go home and change first?" She chuckled and nodded as she helped me to stand up.

~~~

I walked into my room and quickly put on some regular clothes and as I was going to grab Jamie's milk I froze seeing a packed bag on the counter with a piece of paper on it. I place Jamie down into his carrier that was on the floor before walking to it.

Slowly I picked it up "I thought I'd help you pack." I gasped hearing that voice I had prayed so many times to never have to hear ever again. Before I could turn around I felt to rough hands on my waist holding me in place.

"It's time to go home, piccolo topo." I tried to pull away but was quickly quieted by a wet cloth on my face. I tried not to but I gave in and collapsed into his arms.

~~~

NO POV

"Hello there." His attempt at a soothing voice failed as Jamie started crying out and whining not wanting to be picked up like he was. "I'm not gonna hurt you. It's time to go home mio ragazzo." He put him in the carrier once again before handing him to one of his men.

"Piccolo topo. You're mine once again." He said picking up the beautiful woman from the floor. Moving her hair out of her face as he walked out of the small home. "No more living in such a slum. You're back to be my queen."