the criminal // S.M.

8 // the spot

I didn't go to school the next day. I don't have the effort to get out of bed, I'm emotionally drained inside and out.

Riley didn't want to go if I wasn't going, so she stayed home too. I called the school and told them she had the flu.

Truth be told we could both use a day off, we haven't hung out lately, and she deserves nothing but the best.

She crawled into my bed and we listened to the bus stop outside the house, and then leave after they realized she wasn't going to come out.

"What do you want to do today?" I asked her.

"Let's go to the spot!"

"The spot" was an area we used to always go to with my parents. If you followed the train tracks on the edge of town, they would eventually lead you to a nice little creek next to a tree with "Quinn Family Was Here" engraved onto it. A sturdy rope was tied to a high branch that a dare devil father once showed his young daughter how to swing on and climb while his wife and baby watched in amusement.

I didn't want to go to the spot, but I knew it would make her happy. Riley didn't hate mom and dad like I did, so she won't understand how bad I want to set fire to that whole area.

But on the contrary, I loved my mom and dad so much. You only get one set of parents, and besides all the murdering, mine were pretty great. They took care of us, got along well enough, and always did cute things with us like go to the spot.

What I hate about them is how they didn't even try to protect me or shield me from things I was too young for. I hate them for getting wasted and allowing a creepy middle aged man to drag me to the back of the underground and "take advantage of me." I hate them for all the other times they let that happen. I hate them for getting me addicted to cigarettes by the time I was ten, and most of all I hate them for not even getting me an option and forcing me to live this life.

I hid all of these thoughts behind reinforcing eyes and a smile.

"Of course we can do that!"

Her face lit up and she bounced off the bed. "Well let's go! Get ready!" She ran out of my room and into hers.

I slid out of bed myself, not wanting to make her wait on me.

I put my long blonde hair into two French braids, threw on a tee shirt and jeans, and skipped the makeup.

Shortly after, Riley came into my room.

"Let's go!" She grabbed my hand and dragged me all the way downstairs.

"Let's s get food so we can have a picnic down there, like we used to," I suggested right before we went out the door.

"Smart!" She blasted off towards the kitchen.

"Ok, I'll make sandwiches and you gather snacks." I told her, grabbing some bread.

A few moments later, we had prepared a full corse meal, complete with 4 Oreos as a dessert.

"Ok, now let's go," I told Riley, grabbing her hand and leading her out the door.

The walk to the spot was more like a hike, but I didn't mind. The fresh air and nature were fun to be in, so I wasn't complaining.

Every time Riley saw a flower, she would pick it and give it to me and tell me a new compliment.

"This one if for that dress you got me a few months ago."

"This one is for feeding me and not letting me die."

"This one is for taking better care of me than you do yourself."

I didn't know what to say at the last one, it broke my heart. She knows things are rough, and she understands I put her before myself. I just want her to have a good life, and I feel so bad that I wasn't able to give that to her all the way.

I love her with all my heart, and I'm so glad I do. Whether she knows it or not, I am alive to this day because of her. One day I'll tell her, but not now. She has no idea what I do for her, and I can just hope that she understands why I do what I do one day.

By the time we made it to the spot, I had weaved all the flowers together to make a beautiful flower crown. I placed it on my head, and when Riley saw it her whole face lit up.

"Boomer that is so nice! Can you make me one?"

"Yes, of course. Let's get set up first."

I took off my backpack and took out the blanket I had brought, spreading it out on the dried up grass. Then I got out the lunch box containing the meal we had prepared, and used it to keep the blanket down.

She plopped down onto the creme colored blanket and patted next to her to motion for me to sit down as well. I did, and I passed her a sandwich and a granola bar.

We weren't talking, but it wasn't silent. The current from the creek creating relaxing white noise, the birds chirping, and far in the distance was a woodpecker.

Peck, peck, peck.

+

"Like this?" She positioned her feet on the knot of the rope, holding on with her thighs.

"Yeah, perfect!" I exclaimed. "Just make sure you hang on tight!"

She did as I told her, and I gently pulled her back and let her go.

"Wow!" She stared at the ground passing beneath her, then at me in amazement. "This is so much fun!"

"Isn't it?"

I remembered when my dad taught me how to swing on this rope, and the memory pained me.

After a while she finally tired herself out and we began the walk back to the house on the train tracks.

"Wanna play a game?" I asked her.

"Yes!" She replied back enthusiastically.

"Okay, all you have to do it balance on the steel part like this, and we will see who can go the farthest with out falling." I demonstrated

"Fun!"

We both got on the metal, carefully placing one foot in front of the other to get across.

For a 6 year old, she was surprisingly good at this. I didn't even have to pretend to win, she actually beat me.

These are the little moments I love and cherish deeply.

These are the moments I will miss the most.

A/N:
Juicy drama coming up soon, y'all aren't ready 🌚
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