Hard Life

I'm sorry

I hurt so much. Why do these men have to be so ruthless? I try and stand but the pain is just too much. I crawl to a wall and sit up and have my back lean agents it. I slowly grab my satchel.

Thank goodness, I brought my ointment. I quickly unscrew the top and place the cap and cover onto the ground. I take off my hoody and shirt slowly so I can get access to my wounds. I examine my chest only to see all the scares from previous assignments.

Using one finger I wipe it across the smelly white cream and wipe it across a wound. "Damn it," I say in a quiet voice as it starts to sting. As I finish up I must wait a bit for the ointment to dry before putting my cloths back on.

I place my ointment back into my satchel. I slowly get up and make my way home with a limp. I know Lilly is going to be really worried when she sees me. I look up at the sky and see the sun starting to go down. I know I must get home fast but I can't go much faster or my wounds would get worse.

I make it home just fine but I'm still limping. Lilly is watching T.V on the couch. It really makes me smile knowing she is alright. I limp over to George's door to receive my last assignment for the day. Before I'm able to knock on the door I hear Lilly ask me if I'm alright. I refuse to speak so I just nod hoping she'll accept that.

As I knock on the door George gives me the package and address. As George and I are standing there I hear Lilly rush upstairs. It's probably because she can't bear to look at me. I can't wait to tell her the good news tomorrow. I kneel down for a bit after George closes the door to take a little break.

The pain seems to disappear by the minute. I must thank that kind lady once I see her again. I smile and get up solely at the thought of her. I head for the door and look up at the stairs before I leave then walk out. I have to get there quick before I get another beating.

The whole walk there I can feel someone watching me but I dare not turn around. I get to the pick-up sight and find it's the most brutal guys I know. I walk up to them and slowly place on the ground just a foot away from them. "I brought the package to you two minutes before you demanded it. I've been through so much today that I don't think I can take much more so I ask you please just take what you came for and leave."

Little man shakes his head, I've given them so many packages that I've somehow learned their names although I don't know their real names. "This time we wanted it thirty minutes before the deadline and you've failed us once more," Big man says. This won't turn out good. "Please... I'm already in so much pain. Just please take the package and go," I say almost stuttering.

Little man grabs ahold of my hoody and spits in my face, "Now you're asking for it!" He brought up a fist and pushed it towards me at an alarming rate but something stopped him. It was the sound of a bottle breaking and a wooden beam falling to the ground. "Big man you go find out what that was while I hold the pep squeak."

So my instincts were right, someone was following me. I wonder who or what it is. I'm sure it's not Lilly for she is safe at Georges. I hear some mumbling from big man but I can't really make it out. I'm really curious now but I know if I move just a little, little man will severely harm me.

I watch as big man grabs ahold of something that looks like a small girl. As he walks closer I can tell its Lilly. "Let her go!" I demanded now struggling like hell to get free. Big Man smirked, "So you know this little lady?" If I told them that I knew her who knows how badly they'd hurt her. "No it's not that," I stop struggling and look down, "It's just that this is between you and me. No need to get her involved." Big Man's smirk gets larger, "Oh, if you don't know her than I guess it's okay if we use her after we are finished with you?"

I instantly know he mean to rape her. "Hey Big Man... isn't she way too young for that? Not to mention she's seen too much." Little Man says with worry in his voice. Lilly has been fighting viciously this whole time. I feel so bad for her. I can't save her. Her legs and body are flaring about, trying to cause as much damage to Big Man as possible, but it's so obvious that it has no effect on him. "Hmm. You have a point Little Man. So what do you think we should do with her? Keep her till she's of age? Beat her? Kill her?"

Not on my watch you don't! I get loose from Little Man's grip. I quickly make my way to Lilly and try to get Big Man to release her. I stop as soon as I feel a knife at my throat, slowly put my arms down to my side. I know if I move in the slightest now I will be the one who will end up dead.

"Throw her in the street when another car comes by," Little man says angrily. I need to save her but how? If I move I'm dead too. "What a pity. She was so cute too," Big Man says then looks back at Little Man, "Think its okay to keep her if she survives the crash?" "Sure. Whatever!" Little man replies. I know Little Man gets pretty weak when he's mad for he doesn't think as much. What I've heard from these two's conversations, Little Man has been like this since he was little.

I quickly push Little Man's arm away from me and rush to get close to Big Man. I need to save her. I was too late. Just two steps two late. Lilly was laying in the road not moving at all. The car getting closer by the second. The whole world seems to be in slow motion. I run past Big Man and push Lilly out of the way of the car just in time.

*THUD* *THUD*

I can literally hear some of my bones break. I want to scream in pain but I have no voice. I cannot move. The car that ran me over doesn't even stop. It just speeds off and turns the corner. Bustards! I can hear two men running off. I guess Big Man and Little Man couldn't stick around to see me die.

I feel someone's arms slide under me. I struggle to look at who this person was. Lilly? She picks me up and carries me the best she can to the sidewalk. She lays me down and puts my head on her lap as she sits close to me. She's sniffling trying to hold back tears. "I...I-I'm s.... s-sorry L...L-Lilly." I tell her as everything goes black.

This wasn't supposed to happen. We were supposed to leave tomorrow after I was done with my job. But in the end I failed my job as a brother. I was supposed to protect her but I was the reason she almost got killed. I don't know how much time I have left but all I ask is that Lilly lives a better life than me.