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“Oh, you think you're worth less?” Slim Tee chuckled.
I struggled with the men, throwing kicks in the air. I sank my teeth into the large arm of the man holding me from behind and he winced, cursing as he let go of me.
The second one came at me, but I kicked him in the balls, forcing him to double over in pain. But before I could take another step forward, the previous man seized me by the hair and yanked me up, making me scream as I flailed in the air.
“Hey, easy with the merchandise,” Slim Tee cautioned. He looked impressed by my resilience.
“Merchandise?” I whispered to myself.
“I told you he was useful.” Mom glanced at me, and my heart shattered into a million tiny pieces.
“Mom?” I pleaded with my eyes, unable to comprehend why she would do this.
It all made sense to me now. I realized that she'd sold me to this man for a thousand dollars.
“Mom?” My eyes welled up with tears.
She turned to me and froze as she met my gaze.
The money was still in her hand. She could give it back. I willed her to give it back. It didn’t work.
Mom looked away from me and sniffed, her eyes going back to the money as she shook her head, as though she was getting rid of the idea of taking me back.
She stuffed the money into her purse.
“I believe our business is completed.”
She shuddered and hesitated before saying with a breaking voice, “Yes…”
“Remember, do not come back.”
She swallowed. “I understand, Slim Tee.”
“Mom!” I called out after her as she wiped her tears and walked out of the office.
She stopped by the door and took one last look at me. My tears were already dropping. She sniffled, wiped a hand over her watery eyes, and left me there.
She sold me off like I was a piece of property that she was no longer in need of. I was betrayed by my own mother.
How could she sell me, her only child, just because she couldn't control herself, because of her addiction? It was all so illogical…
I hated people who were illogical…irresponsible…stupid... They had a way of getting under my skin.
Amelia gasps, staring at me with wide eyes.
“I learned how to fight in there, but it wasn’t just the physical fights. People could put you down with their words until you found it difficult to lift a fist,” I explain. “That was me until I decided I couldn’t do that anymore, and so, I developed a thick skin and a sharp mouth, and became the very thing they used to keep me down.”
I sigh. “No one can bring me down anymore, not before I cut you into pieces with my words or with my fists.”
Amelia sniffles and I frown, realizing that she has begun to tear up. For me?
“I didn’t tell you so you could get all sentimental on me,” I grumble, feeling odd.
“I’m so sorry you went through all of that. You deserved so much better,” she says, the sadness very clear in her voice.
“Yes, well,” I go back to my task of loosening her up. “Don’t worry about it.”
“How can I not?” She sounds so sympathetic.
