Chapter 10: Final

Simone lifted her lifeless arm, sadly studying her hand. Soft linen bandages covered the tips of her fingers. It had been a week after the incident. All her bags were packed, neatly lined against her hotel room. She felt her cheek sting as tears flowed down the dirt on her skin. Shaking her head and deciding to stay strong, she grabbed her bags and went downstairs and climbed in the backseat of Len’s car.

            In the corner of her eye, she saw Len looking at her through the driver’s mirror.

            “Just so you know Simone, I hate them as much as you do. I’m also very proud to be your guardian. I will always be here for you. Remember that, alright?”

            Simone didn’t say anything. Instead, she looked outside the window, a déjà vu flashing on her from the first day she came back to Golden Bull. Silently, she said her goodbyes to the Hammermill Café, the Golden Bull School, the beautiful forest that surrounded the town, all her friends, and mainly Michael.

            Good-bye, Michael.