Sua Farfalla

Just as broken as me

Jenna's POV:

"Alright, what is goi-"

"Go", she simply said, handing me the ticket.

Taking it from her hand, I still couldn't understand what was going on. "But, why would you let m-".

Interrupting me again with a sigh, she grabbed my hand and led me to a small bench so that we could sit.

"I know what Gerald did to you, and I also know about Roger", she stated simply.

That came as no surprise at all to me, I've always known she was aware of my foster uncle's abuse towards me, I just never thought she cared enough to do something.

"This morning when I woke up and you were gone, I knew you'd run away, and honestly, I don't blame you. In fact, I'm leaving too".

Alright, that is a shocker.

"Listen Jenna cause we don't have much time, my marriage started off as a fairytale, full of love and promises, but after a while Gerald showed me his true colors. He... he 'shared' me with his sick brother like I was a piece of clothes".

Her story could have made anyone feel sad or sympathetic, but it seemed like she was over it, like she didn't give a damn anymore, and I respect her for that, for being able to stay strong and move on.

"After a while, they developed a liking for younger girls, much like you, so they stopped paying attention to me and left me alone with my thoughts. 

I started secretly going to therapy only to fall for James", she said with a smile while pointing towards a man at the doorway.

"Every time I left the house to meet my friends, I was with him. We got married Jenna, a while ago actually", she said while showing me the ring she was now wearing on her finger.

"But what about your marriage to Gerald?", I asked, pretty sure you can't marry twice, not in the US at least.

"We never truly signed anything, it was all based on words, on promises. 

Jenna, my mother warned me a long time ago that promises are meant to be broken, and she was right. 

I was waiting for the right time to leave with him, and once I saw you had done the same, I packed my bags and left too. 

Don't worry though, I told Gerald you had gone to prison for that Juvie Program thing, and I left unnoticed once he went to work".

I couldn't believe my ears, I truly couldn't. 

All this time I thought she was just as bad as Gerald, when in reality, she was just as broken as me.

"I got this for you", she said while going through her purse. 

"It's your birth certificate and other important papers you might need in the future. And I also got this done", she said while handing me another big laminated paper.

"It's an emancipation certificate. It basically means you are your own guardian now, no parents needed for anything. I figured you'd need it the day you got sick of us".

A silent tear escaped my eye at her gesture, still not being able to process everything completely. 

"And here I thought you were just a b***h", I whispered while letting out a small laugh.

"Yeah", she answered. "I wouldn't blame you for that, I kind of am", she said with a smile. 

"Hey, you're running out of time Jenna, you should probably go", Mandy said while looking at the station's clock.

"Wait! Where are you gonna go?", I asked truly concerned.

With a soft chuckle, she answered: "Don't worry about me, I've been planning this for a long time, James and I are going to stay with his family in London. They won't come looking for me that far".

We both stood up, none really knowing what to say anymore.

"Jenna, listen, I never really wanted children, that was all Gerald's idea to fulfill his own perverted desires, so I'm truly sorry if I wasn't the mother every girl wishes to have. 

And I'm also very sorry I didn't help with Roger, I guess I was just afraid he'd get his attention back to me if I protested. But I'm trying to do something nice now okay? Better late than never, right?"

A soft laugh left my lips as more tears continued to stream down my face.

"Yeah, it is", I smiled out. "But why adopt Austin if it was girls they were interested in?", I asked, hurting myself a little when I said his name out loud.

"Well, Robert couldn't adopt anyone cause he has a criminal record which includes abuse and excessive use of alcohol and drugs, and he thought it'd be too obvious if his brother adopted a girl out of nowhere, so he convinced him to adopt a boy first, and then a girl. In comes Austin and you", she answered, sadness washing over her once she spoke about him.

With my voice as soft and broken as a whisper, I asked the question I hope she could answer. 

"You don't happen to know where he is, do you?"

Sighing deeply, she moved her head from left to right. "That is the one thing Gerald never told me, Jenna, and I think it's best if I don't know, I don't think I could handle it...", she said mumbling the last part.

"What do you mean? Do you know something?", I asked with so much hope I thought I might combust. 

If there was a chance something happened to him, if there's a chance he didn't just run away, I really needed to know.

"All I know is that he might not have left on his own free will. Now Jenna, seriously, you'll miss the bus, you should go". She changed the subject so quickly I suspected there was more to it than what she had told me.

Looking at the departure door, my mind finally registered the truth of these events. 

"Well then, I guess this is it, right?"

"I guess so", she said. "Oh hold on, I almost forgot". She went back to her purse and handed me a big envelope.

"Here, it's not much, but it's enough to get you going for another year. And I truly suggest you change your surname Jenna, just in case they try to look for you", she said while turning around to leave.

I stuffed all the papers and money she gave me into my bag before calling out for her. 

"Wait!", I shouted, successfully gaining her attention.

"Not all promises are meant to be broken, you know?"

Those words I spoke were ingrained in my mind and heart, along with Alonzo's five year settlement. 

He promised he'd come back, I know he will.

"I hope you're right about that Jenna, I truly hope you are", she said while giving me a small smile, hope grazing her features as she looked at James.

And with that, we both turned around to start our new lives. 

Her with her husband in England, and me with my solitude in California.