Page 35 of Swamp Princess

“When was the last time you had an exam?”

“I don’t remember.” My phone starts sounding with my phone notifications, and I grab it and hit the mute button, seeing Blaise number and an unknown one messaging me.

“Would you like one? We can do it here and then you wouldn’t have to worry for another year.”

“Okay.” I watch as she leaves, saying she is going to get the doctor and when she comes in, she does the exam on me, asking me questions which I answer automatically, only stumbling when she asks.

“How many sexual partners do you have?”

“One.” I pause and she looks at me. “I guess, I’ve had two.”

“What do you mean you guess?” She looks over her glasses at me.

“Meaning, I guess I slept with two people, but it should be no one’s business but my own.”

“Okay.” She jaunts down some notes and we finish the exam. I am handed a pill and given a date next year to come back. I leave after taking the pill and feel at least I have that out of the way.

Leaving the clinic, hunger hits me and I see a small grocery store, mostly known for all the ethnic food and spices, and I smile. My mother used to shop here before she got completely coked out. I walk over and as soon as I get close, a little old lady comes out, carrying two large brown bags.

I move out of her way but two teens run at her full force, too quick for me to stop them, and they snatch the bags, pushing her over. They are wearing masks and pause to look at me as the woman on the ground groans in pain.

I don’t move, not knowing if they are armed but also remembering why I wanted to go to Skystead in the first place. The violence across the tracks is bad enough that they are even robbing poor older women.

When they leave, I reach down and help the woman up. “Are you okay? I’m sorry they took your bags but I can help you stand. If you’d like, I could go shopping again for you.”

“Thank you, darling.” Her accent is thick with Spanish. I look at her eyes where she must have hit the side of her face with the bruising. She smiles warmly at me. Her green eyes so bright even at her age, giving her a playful look.

I like her almost immediately. She looks like she would be a fun grandmother. She has curly dark brown hair that catches in the sun, giving some of her locks a honey look.

“Will you get?” She hands me a list and I can see about fifteen items on the list. “I call driver.”

“Yes, I can.” I pull out my food stamp card, and I head inside. I am not going to ask her to use her money when I barely used the stamps this month. I haven’t been home really, and my mother eats coke, cake and chips, and downs tequila when she is thirsty.

I quickly find everything she needs in the store, and also grab me a smoked ribbed sandwich. I pay for everything and see the little old lady standing next to a black car. It’s not flashy and almost looks like it was meant to blend in.

A tall man gets out of the car and moves to me, holding his arms out for the bags. “Here, miss, I can take these.”

“Okay.” I watch him move around to the trunk and pop it open and place the bags inside.

I walk to the woman and smile at her. “Do you need any more help?”

She smiles at me, and the look is almost mischievous. “Yes, dear, I do. It looks like you need a ride. How about you help escort me home, and then my driver could give you a ride to wherever you need.”

I hesitate. I don’t normally consider doing this but the pain in her stance as she waits has me shaking my head. I don’t want her to fall again, knowing she must already be in pain.

“Okay, I can walk you in and make sure you get to your door.”

Her hand reaches out to touch my face. “You have a kind heart.” I love her accent and how thick it is.

I help her into the car and awkwardly settle in next to her. The driver doesn’t even blink when he looks back at me sitting next to her and for one brief moment, I have fear that I made a mistake. I look to the woman and see her checking out her leg and see the bruises forming.

“My name is Brinley.” I tell her.

She raises her eyes to mine again and smiles. “Such a beautiful name. You may call me Rosie.” Her eyes seem to penetrate into my skin and I smile awkwardly. “My grandson would love you.”

I snort before I catch myself and she chuckles. “Sorry, but I don’t need any more boys in my life.”

“Never say never, dear. You could always use as much love in your life as you can have, and I can tell you’re a good one. Not many people would have stopped to help me.”

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