Collateral

"You're just the collateral. Don't get your hopes up sweetheart. Once your parents pay, you're going back to them." His words are like little knives stabbing me. To say that it's sad that I would rather be an insurance policy than be at home is an understatement. It's pathetic, depressing, and sad. Pathetic on my parents part and sad on mine. Ever since I turned thirteen, my 'okay' parents turned to the monsters under my bed. Using me, hurting me, and now pawning me off to some criminal. So when Anthony told me what's really going to happen. My words got caught in my throat and my heart sank.

"So, you're just going to give me back?" I ask quietly, still soaking in the new information. He nods his head and his cold eyes never leave my own.

"You're not being saved sweetie, I bet it must suck knowing that nobody cares enough to try." He spits venomously and I cringe at his words. He was right, I'm twenty and nobody has come to rescue me. Anthony Barella, drug lord, mafia overlord. Who knows? I only know that he's one hundred percent right. My life is my permanent hell. After all, I'm just the collateral.