Page 7 of Revenge

We chatted for a while longer until K suggested we find my mother. I needed help cleaning my knees before my tights started sticking to the cuts.

As he helped me crawl out from under the stage, he glanced around and asked if I saw my mother. She was talking to my uncle, in the corner of the room and I nodded towards them. She looked so beautiful in her wedding dress.

I felt K stiffen beside me before he said, “Come on, Boo.” His voice was colder that time.

K took my hand in his and walked me over to my mother. I knew she wouldn’t be mad at me when she saw my knees. Mummy was never mean, but I didn’t want to spoil her day. That’s why I’d decided to hide untilaftershe’d finished dancing.

“Mrs Wilkinson,” K said, grabbing my Mummy's attention; and calling her by her new name. I was surprised he knew it. Before that, she had been Mrs Briggs and one time we’d shared the same surname, Cawthorne.

Mummy and my uncle turned to look down at me, a look of concern flashing across their faces.

“What have you done to yourself?” Uncle Graham gasped.

“Oh, my goodness darling, did you fall?” she said, dropping down, and placing her arms around me. This broke my hand away from K’s and I felt that loss deep in the pit of my tummy.

Mummy squeezed me, and my uncle called to someone over my head.

As she let me go, her gaze fell on K and I too turned to face him. “Thank you so much, err…” she began, clearly not knowing him.

“K,” I replied for him, not failing to notice the cross look he was giving my mother. This drew her gaze to me and then back again.

“Sorry?”

“K, that’s his name. I fell and he helped me up.” K didn’t try and correct my fib.

As Mummy straightened, his expression warmed again once his eyes met mine.

“Thank you so much K,” Mummy said nicely.

K squatted down so his eyes were on my level and ruffled my hair with his hand. It made me smile.

He then pushed back to his feet. He was so tall, like a giant.

Our eyes remained locked together like someone had used the strongest of glues.

“Thank you,” I said, looking up at the angel that had saved me. The disco ball in the hall was working and lit up the floor with a million stars. As they floated over his face and shoulders, he looked almost spirit-like.

“See you around, Boo. And one day, I promise you, you will find your happy ever after.”

As he moved to turn away my mother asked, “Sorry, I’d like to thank you properly.Whoare you?”

After another glance down at me, his last words confused me and I knew they would stay with me forever.

“Nobody.”

One

Revenge

verb

inflict hurt or harm on someone for an injury

or wrong done to oneself.

The Present

Kai

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