Empathy

"Work"

After Fran left I went downstairs where Bret was.  He was seated at the dining table signing papers.  I pulled up a chair next to him.

"Thank you."  He didn't respond, was focusing on his papers.  "What are you working on?"

"Work."  I was afraid to ask anymore questions, but I figured one more couldn't hurt.  "So do you always work late?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Just trying to make conversation, I want to know if you're going to be here on for the night."

"What does it matter?"  He said not taking an eye off his papers.

"I'm just asking, I mean it gets lonely you know."

"I'm not here to babysit you."

"Look I didn't ask to be here-"

"You think I did?"  He said finally looking at me.  I swallowed before I said anything else.

"At least let me out."

"No.  You'll get your chances."  He looked back down.

"When?"

"Soon."

_________________________________

I spent the entire day in my room.  I decided I should call Fran.

"Hello?"

"Ava?  Whats up?  Where are you calling me from, did he give you your phone back?"

"No, not exactly."

"Did you talk to him?"

"Yes, but it seems like almost every conversation we have turns into an argument or a disagreement."

"Well i'm sure you fight back you always do."

"Sometimes but then I stop myself."

"Ava Murray?  I don't believe you.  You have never stopped yourself from saying anything to anyone.  See I told you he was the one."

"I try, but its not meant to be.  He's never around much and when he is he doesn't show any interest.  He know's I'm only here because I saw something I wasn't supposed to, I was stupid for thinking that he would actually see me as something else."

"I'm sorry, but if not him then who else?  I mean you told me you can't leave right?"

"Right."

"You stay there forever?"

"I guess, he said he won't let me go."

"This doesn't make any sense Ava."

"What do you mean?"

"Why would he keep you in his home for the rest of your life?"

"...because I saw something I wasn't supposed to, I told you this."

"No your not following.  Wouldn't it make more sense to kill you?  You said his men killed someone so we know he's done it before.  So why would he keep you?"  I felt my heart skip a beat for a minute.

"You think he's going to kill me!"

"No!  If he was he would of already of done it.  There's a reason Ava, I would keep my eye on him if I were you."  She was right.  How could I think about love when something like this was happening in front of my eyes?  Bret was making me blind.

_____________________________________

About 2 weeks have passed since I last law Fran but we have kept in touch.  I have been here for about a total of a month and two weeks.  Nothing has happened.  Bret has been working till night.