Tears of Glass

Stay Safe

The world came into focus slowly the next morning. I woke to Zachariah milling about the bedroom. The light was off but the window shades were open, soft light filtered through them. I sat up slowly, careful not to pull on the cuff around my wrist. "What time is it?" My head pounded with the sound of my voice.

Zachariah stopped and looked at me. "Well, good morning to you too." He crouched down to meet my eyes. "It's almost seven. The boys will be here soon."

"Yeah morning." I sighed. "Can I go to the bathroom?"

He nodded and unlocked my wrist. I studied my self in the bathroom mirror. There was a Y shaped bruise creeping up the bridge of my nose and both corners of my eyes were black. Four quarter sized bruises were purpling on the right side of my neck and a long bruise had started to swell on the left side.

When I came out of the bathroom Zachariah was zipping up a backpack on the bed. I sat next to where he was working on the bed. "Is my dad nice?" I wondered allowed, I couldn't judge his mood but I needed more answers than what he had given me so far.

He looked at me, then carefully touched my face, moving my hair away from the bruising I tried to hide. "Your dad is a lot like me." He said walking towards the bathroom, he returned with a small capsule of cream and sat down next to me. "We were very close growing up, being only 10 months apart we shared many of life's milestones together." He opened the capsule and turned my face towards him. He started gently rubbing the cream on the bruises.

"Why did it take him so long to want to find me?"

"Your dad got your mom pregnant when they were barely 15. However despite their age they wanted to meet their baby. When your mother disappeared after having you, her mother took you and left. Your dad was heartbroken but me and your grandmother convinced him that it was for the best. A year ago your moms sister sought out your father, she told him that her mother died the month before and that she had put his child in foster care after you turned two. We had no idea where to look. Your aunt was too scared to tell your father before then. You OD'ed not very long ago right?"

I nodded, remembering the event like it was yesterday.

"As much as I want to know why I won't press right now. Anyway with your blood work in the system it wasn't hard to narrow down the search and ask for a DNA test. With money you can do almost anything. As soon as it was confirmed I had August go get you." Zachariah put the lid on the cream, my face wasn't throbbing as much anymore.

"Did he work for you before this?"

"Sometimes, he did odd jobs but his connection to you brought us closer."

"So when are you going to tell me the real reason you kidnapped me?"

Zachariah sighed, he patted my head gently then stood up. "In due time. Do you want breakfast?"

I shook my head. The doorbell rang, I jumped.

"They're here, I have to go. I will see you in a few days."

"Wait, um." I started confidently but nerves caught up with me. His careful stare told me I better finish the sentence. "Can I have some pain medicine? My head is pounding."

He thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, don't move." He walked into the bathroom and shut the door. I heard a lock click somewhere in the bathroom. Then he came back out. "It's just ibuprofen I promise, won't mess with your head."

I nodded, and took the pills. Appreciative that he recognized my hesitancy in asking as me being nervous about giving him the chance to drug me. "Should I wait here?"

"Yes please," Zachariah said, swinging the bag over his shoulder. I'm pretty sure that was the first and only time I will ever hear him say please. When he left the door shut but didn't lock. I stood up and went over to the window. It was on the side of the house and had a fire escape ladder going to the ground. I studied it for a few more moments before I heard footsteps coming towards the bedroom, I sat back on the bed just as the door opened.