his approval
506 Words
Santiago came in and stared at me for a while.
I was sitting on the floor of my room with almost no strength left. My chest felt heavy and my vision was blurred from the fever.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me up.
I tried to resist but my body felt weak.
He pulled out a knife and held it close enough to make me stop.
Keep quiet or die right here.
I went silent.
He turned away and helped Lorraine up from the floor.
She was shaking.
The moment she stood, she started crying and wrapped her arms around him.
She held onto him tightly and whispered his name like he was going to save her.
Santiago did not hug her back.
He removed her hands and stepped away.
Her expression changed immediately.
Then he turned to me.
His face stayed calm but his eyes were cold.
Are you satisfied now?
No, I replied quietly.
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he said,
Do whatever you want with her.
Lorraine smiled instantly.
She thought he was talking to her.
She even fixed her clothes and stood straighter like everything was normal.
But he wasn't looking at her.
His eyes stayed on me.
I give you permission.
I nodded.
My hands were still shaking, but my anger felt stronger than my weakness.
I walked toward Lorraine.
She realized too late.
Her smile disappeared.
I slapped her.
Her face turned to the side.
I hit her again.
She tried to block me, but I pulled her hand away.
I didn't stop until my arm felt heavy and my palm burned.
She dropped to the floor, crying.
Santiago watched quietly.
He didn't stop me.
He didn't turn away.
When I finally stepped back, he moved toward her.
She reached for him again, but he stepped aside.
He looked down and said,
Only I decide how she is punished.
Lorraine froze.
She looked at him and shouted,
I'm your girlfriend. She's just a captive orphan.
But he ignored her.
Santiago turned to one of the maids.
Call the doctor.
Then he looked at me.
Stay in your room.
I wanted to ask why he let me do it.
But one look at his face told me not to.
My body still felt weak and my head wouldn't stop spinning.
I nodded and leaned against the wall.
Behind me, Lorraine kept crying.
Her voice sounded broken.
She ran out of the room in tears.
I closed my eyes.
I didn't know what Santiago was planning.
I didn't know if this was mercy or another test.
All I knew was that for the first time, I had been allowed to fight back.
I sat on the edge of my bed and stared at my hands.
They wouldn't stop trembling.
A while later, the doctor came and treated my fever.
Sleep didn't come easily that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lorraine's face.
Then I saw Santiago's.
I didn't know which one scared me more.
- Writer
