Page 13 of Blade's Angel

“I like that you’ve given me my own nickname. It makes me feel more included around here.”

“It’s my nickname for you, Angel. The rest can go and find their own.”

I chuckle at that before sobering up to talk about my past.

“I was eight the first time she used me to make a quick buck.”

“How’d she use you, Angel?”

His entire demeanor has tensed back up at my words, no doubt imagining the worst. No, that didn’t happen when I was eight; that happened when I turned ten.

“Pictures. She took pictures that are not appropriate for any child that age to have taken and sold them to her sick contacts.”

“Please tell me this is a sick joke, Angel.” Blade all but begs; his eyes aren’t filled with pity, though. No, they're filled with barely contained rage.

“Unfortunately, no. It happened. It kept happening until I turned ten, and she decided she could make more money from me.”

“Fucking hell, Angel, please tell me she didn’t do what I think.”

“Sold my body? Yeah, she did.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, Blade is dragging me into his lap, hugging me to his chest. Tucking his head into my neck. I return the embrace, wrapping my own arms around him. I can feel his entire body vibrating under my hands, and the wetness coating my shoulder. I had no idea telling him would affect him this much, and I can’t help but feel a little guilty. I honestly didn't think my words would upset him this much.

I have no idea how long we sit like that, but when Blade pulls back and looks up at me, his eyes rimmed red from crying, but something else too. Understanding.

“It was my Dad.” He says, voice barely above a whisper.

“What was?” I ask, a feeling of dread in my gut.

“Who raped me. It was my own Dad.” His voice sounds hollow.

“I'm so fucking sorry that he did that to you, Blade. Fuck, I can't even imagine what that must have felt like growing up. Did your mom not know?”

Fucking hell. I can’t even imagine what that was like for him when he was growing up. I thought what my Mom did was bad, but what he went through was the worst of the worst. I hope to God that he’s rotting away either in prison or in the ground. Disgusting waste of air. Don’t get me started on my new rage towards Jasmine either. The only thing I’m thankful for is that she didn’t know all the facts. God knows what horrid shit she would have said or done.

Blade lets out a humorless laugh at my question, and I know whatever is about to come out of his mouth I’m not going to like.

"Yeah, she knew; she blamed me for it and used to beat me because her husband wanted his son more than her.”

“What the fuck is wrong with people? How was that even remotely your fault? You were a fucking child!”

"Yeah, it fucking sucked for years. I got lucky one day when a teacher saw some marks on me when I was changing for sports and questioned me about it. Let's just say the marks made it obvious something bad was happening to me. I ended up telling them everything that was happening.”

“What happened after you'd told them?”

“The whole works: social workers, police, court, and foster care. They were both found guilty after I testified and all the photographic proof and medical reports I had to have done.”

“How old were you?”

“Ten when it started, and fourteen when they went to prison.”

“Fuck Blade I thought my mom was bad, but your parents take the fucking cake. Please tell me they're still doing time.”

“It's not a competition on who had the worst parents growing up, Angel; we both had shit childhoods, but they shaped us into who we are today. I rather like the way you turned out, despite what shit you went through. I think you're amazing. Oh, and yeah, they're still doing time; they'll be out in a few years, I think. I don't actually know; I'd have to get Tech to check.”

“Thank you for saying that. I like the way you turned out too. I'm glad I came here and got to meet you.”

His face breaks out into a heart-stopping smile at my words. If we weren’t in the middle of such a heavy topic, I might just say something about how good he looks when he smiles, but I know this isn’t the time.

---