Chapter 2

He looked at the Prime Minister.

“You’re lying.”

 

“You’re wrong about that, then.” The Prime Minister said coolly.

 

While having what seemed like a stare-down with the Prime Minister, he succeeded in concealing his fear. Was she really his birth mother? Had what she said before she died been true?

 

“Evidence.” He said simply, still looking deep into the black eyes that stared back at him.

 

“The most convincing. She had it- the tattoo. The exact same one you bear on your wrist.”

 

He turned his right wrist slightly and for the first time, looked down. He glanced at the tattoo. It was of a skull and a rifle crossing each other, marking an “X” spot.

 

He was immediately brought back to that very day.

 

June 14^th.

 

He was reminded of everything that happened. How she had tricked him into going to the cafe, how she had tried to tell him about his birth, how he had gotten mad. It was all coming back to him, the turned-over tables, the glass smithereens and the spilled coffee.

 

Then he remembered. How she pleaded, how she grabbed hold of him, how he wrenched her hands away.

 

“It wasn’t there the day she was-” He began.

 

“She couldn’t have it there. Not on her wrist. It was too risky. Her family knew nothing of your existence, and if they asked, her lie would have been exposed.”

 

He looked at the Prime Minister with silence, pondering over each and every word the Prime Minister was saying.

 

“She had it on her hipbone instead. A place where no one could see it, no matter what costume she wore.”

 

Costume. What did he mean? The Prime Minister saw the puzzled look on his face, and without request explaining what he meant.

 

“She was a dancer. Oh yes, she was. And an excellent one. She worked in a bar, the Blue Moon bar, just so she could support you. For 5 years, she worked. For 5 years, she led a hectic life, suppressing every urge to castrate the men who had violated her. She was only 15 when you were born.”

 

“Why did she leave?” Between curiosity and belief, he chose curiosity. “Why did she abandon me?”

 

“She had no choice. When I met her I saw how tired she was. It was obvious that being a night-club dancer was not what she wanted anymore. She had plans. She wanted to study. I couldn’t blame her. She was only a young woman, a very pretty one, of 20 years of age only.”

 

The Prime Minister looked at him. He looked like as if he wanted to say something. When he didn’t, he continued.

 

“She pleaded me to take care of you. I was her only friend. She wanted to go and study, and come back after she had attained her degree.”

 

“And you let her abandon me?” The Prime Minister could feel his uprising anger through his eyes.

 

“I...I loved her. I couldn’t help it. I wanted to do all I could for her,” The Prime Minister said pleadingly.

 

He stared coldly into his eyes. He was lying. If he had really brought him back, and brought him up, he would not be who he was. He wouldn’t have been forced to survive independently; he wouldn’t be here, not at all. He would be making millions of dollars and Jenny; she would be so happy. They would be so happy together now.

 

“You’re lying.”

 

“Please, David-”

 

That was all that he could bear. It all happened so quickly. In a few seconds, his chair was knocked back, the wooden table was pushed aside, and he was face-to-face with the Prime Minister, with the concrete wall supporting his back.

 

Their noses were almost touching each other’s, and he could hear the heavy breathing of the Prime Minister.

 

“Don’t. Call. Me. David.” He was so angry, that he did not bother concealing the threatening level of his tone.

 

“Please, I’m sure there is a better way-”

 

“There is no better way!” He shouted, nearly breaking the Prime Minister’s eardrums. “I have had enough. Three years. Three years!” His anger brought him close to tears, but he wouldn’t allow it, no, he couldn’t-

 

“I know what you have been through, and I’m terribly sorry. But-”

 

“Don’t say sorry!” He screamed. “And don’t say you know what I’ve been through, because you don’t!” He was shaking uncontrollably; he was furious, so furious.

 

“Three years... Jenny was pregnant, I told you. You said you would shorten my sentence. You promised me two years only. But you never did fulfill it. All you did was sit your office and spin lies. You caused her miscarriage!”

 

He looked at him straight in the eye, black piercing black.

 

“And tonight, you visit me. For the first time in three years. And lie about the one thing I hate being lied to about.”

 

“I’m not lying, please. I can explain all these, give me a chance.” The Prime Minister said desperately, suffocating.

 

“Shut up. Shut, the f**k up.”

 

As the Prime Minister slid to the floor, catching for breath, he saw his very own step-son, breaking out of the Nevada State Prison.