Thorn: Age 18
Igraduated. Today is the day I get to start thinking about my dream. Briar even mentioned it over breakfast. Honestly, I thought she would forget or try to talk me out of it. I was in shock when she brought it up casually over eggs and toast.
She took the day off, and we’re going to eat at a steakhouse in celebration of my achievement- Valedictorian. Yeah, I earned that shit. The day I told Briar I was speaking at graduation, she nearly collapsed in tears. She was so happy for me. This is for her as well.
My sister has finally put on some weight. I told her I would start looking for a job, that way we could move to a two-bedroom. She lets me take the bed while she sleeps on the couch. Our one-bedroom is small, and she says because I’m in school and need my sleep, she takes the couch. It should be the other way around, but my sister can be stubborn at times.
The apartment is bare, with minimum furniture. There is a bed on a box spring, no frame, and a small dresser in the bedroom. We have a box for a side table with a small lamp. The living room has a couch, and while it’s faded and old, it’s still kind of comfy. We have a small table with two chairs in the kitchen and that’s it. Bare minimum, furniture we either found on the street corner waiting for trash day or at second-hand shops. We share the closet since we don’t have much, and it’s a small closet anyway. What the apartment lacks in furniture, it makes up for in love.
Today is one step closer to making my dreams come true and paying her back for all of it. Everything I’ve endured, she’s endured up until now, but no more. It’s my turn to take care of her. I’ll make sure of that. Maybe on my journey she’ll find love too. I think she still misses Lennon, though she never talks about him anymore. She needs her own happiness and I know why she hasn’t dated. It’s because of him. I want to tell her that he’s never coming back, but I know she’s holding out hope.
“Ready?” she asks as she comes out of the bedroom, dressed in a cute maxi dress, looking the happiest I’ve seen her in a long time.
It makes me proud that I could put that smile on my sister’s face.
Don’t worry, asshole. I’m coming to find you and kick you into next year for hurting her heart,I think to myself. My sister deserves all the happiness and love in the world. I guess Lennon will miss out on all of that.
“I’m ready,” I say as we head down to the car. Marge and Jerry are joining us, which is huge.
They shut down the diner to come eat with us. We owe them a gratitude of thanks.
“Thought about college?” she asks as she points the car in the direction we need to go.
“I think I’ll take a few classes, like general ones. And I’ve already started looking for jobs as I promised,” I say.
“Okay. I know you want to join a gym. I won’t go back on our deal,” she says, smiling at me.
She hates fighting. It reminds her of that hellhole we grew up in. I understand why, but for me, I feel the need to be able to protect her. She needs that.
“Thank you, Briar,” I say.
“For?” She cocks her head at me, wondering why I thanked her. “Being my big sister, for looking out for me. Doing what you had to do to protect me.”
“I’d do it again if I had to, Thorn.”
I know she would. She would jump in front of a train to protect me or take a bullet. I won’t let her do that for me, not ever.
“I know that. I do appreciate it, though,” I say as she ruffles my hair, and I whine. She just laughs.
We pass the diner on our way to the steakhouse. The restaurant is about thirty minutes from the diner on the other side of town.
We make it to the steakhouse, and a waitress shows us to our seats. I turn to see a guy grabbing a to-go box, and I swear it’s Lennon. By the time I’m up to go look, he’s gone. Could it be that easy?
“What’s wrong?”
“Just looking for Marge and Jerry,” I lie.
I scan the restaurant hoping that the guy went to the restroom. I know what I saw, and I want to give him a piece of my mind.
“Okay,” she says as she goes back to looking at the menu.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell her, and she nods. I go to the front to ask the girl if she knew that guy. She says no.
“Can you tell me his name?”
“I can’t do that. It’s against the law unless you’re law enforcement.”
She knows damned well I’m not law enforcement. I thank her and walk out to the parking lot, looking around, but I don’t see him anywhere. I go to head inside when a flyer catches my eye.
CAGE FIGHTING: WINNER RECEIVES $1,000!
I’m pretty sure this isn’t legal, but I don’t give a fuck. I’m going, and hopefully, I’ll win. This is the start to making my sister’s dreams and wishes come true. I’m going to be her fairy godmother or whatever. And Lennon, I’m still coming for you.
Lennon
I stand in front of the mirror, trying to will myself to look away. I don’t like what I see, but this is the life I chose. It doesn’t matter if I’m the best, I’m damaged, broken. I fight to feel anything- Pain, mainly pain. I can have any girl I want, but I want her. And I will do anything to have her, even turn on my friend. I had her first.