Protecting Kendra

Chapter 10 - Paxton

I didn't expect the visit to see Emily's mother would affect me as it did. I know what kind of people exist in this world. I also know that everyone fits the category of some deranged mind out there. It does not matter if you are kind or not. It does not matter if you are a male or female. If someone comes across the wrong person, they can become a target. The threat can even come from the people who brought you into this world with the only job to love and protect you. I was dealt this hand. My father was a cruel man who would take his anger out on my mother and me. The slightest inconvenience would flip a switch inside him that allowed no reasoning. I tried to direct his attention towards me in those moments to save my mother from yet another bruise or cut lip to conceal. There were many times I failed, and she would lie in bed all day recovering. I used to get so angry at her. I didn't understand why she wouldn't get us far away from this man. It wasn't until many years later that I learned the truth. My father had convinced doctors and police officers that my mother had a psychotic break when I was a few years old. She was deemed unfit to care for me alone and lost all rights. No one took her seriously when she spoke up pleading for help. In turn, I only received pity when I talked about my mother's state. Her abuse became worse each time our attempts to help became known to him. He threatened to have her locked up where she would never be allowed to see me again. We became silent, knowing it was our only hope of surviving.

My eighteenth birthday was our first small breath of relief. We could finally leave, and we did. We received news shortly after that my father had a heart attack and passed away. I thought the world would feel brighter, but it was still as dark as ever to me. My mother created new friends, but I kept my distance as best I could. My father fooled so many with his performance outside the house. I couldn't help but wondering how many people I passed on the street were doing the same thing. How many were told but aren't helping? That was the difference between my mother and I. She saw that there was good in the world before she met my father. The only good I knew was through her. That is until I met Randy. He came across me one night when I was drunk and stumbling along the beach. He simply asked if I was okay, and I went off on him. "Hah, oh now someone asks?! Do you even f*****g care?" My words slurred and filled with venom, but it didn't phase him. "Turkey or ham?" was his only reply. I could only stare. He raised his arm that was holding a take-out bag from the local sandwich shop. "Which one?" The rest of the night he sat beside me on the sand listening. The next day I was convinced I would never see him again, but he kept finding me to check in. I started going to the gym with him as a healthy outlet to let go of my rage. It was there that he told me what he did for a living and convinced me to join the academy.

This memory brought me guilt with the realization of what was bothering me. I was becoming the faces I once questioned on the streets. I just listened to Margaret talking about her missing daughter, but all I could think of was Kendra's situation. This was her last hope of receiving help, and I was about to be that person that stepped aside. I know I can't devote my time to her case with Daniel on the loose, but I'm going to make sure Margaret is receiving help. I decided I would finally collect on a favor that a former guard owes me. My guilt began to subside knowing this guard puts everything into his work. I'm going to inform Kendra after this last interview. She currently has her notebook open prepping herself. I don't want to take away time on the drive there when she's trying to make sure she's ready. I know she's already worried about leaving important questions out. It will just have to wait.

I can't help but to think how proud Randy would be of her. She's the rare unquestionable good in the world. She doesn't hesitate to help where she can. She doesn't wait until a need is made known either. She's constantly searching for how she can contribute. If only she knew how close she was following in her father's footsteps. I wish that I was able to tell her. Knowing that I was close to Randy may lead to questions that I’m not able to answer. She’s very intuitive. She would become suspicious and everything Randy wanted to shield her from would begin to unravel. She would question everything in her life if she knew what exactly he had kept from her. It would destroy her. It’s best to leave the topic alone altogether. It’s not worth the risk of breaking the image she has of her father.