I pressed my hand to my chest, the pain still throbbing, watching the car disappear down the street.
The lawyer helped me up, his voice soft but stern. "The Graham Family’s got serious power in Javelin. They can make it look like they’re untouchable. You, with no one left, won’t win against them.
"Why not just take the money and sign the letter of apology? It’ll all be over then. I heard you got into a good school. If you keep pushing this, you could ruin your future. Don’t make a mistake you’ll regret."
I couldn’t stop myself. In one swift motion, I tore up the letter, my anger pouring out. My mom was still in the ICU, fighting for her life, and they were offering me money like it could fix anything. What future did I even have left?
I ended up kneeling outside the police station, but they wouldn’t do anything. Kingston’s family had too much power, too many connections.
The cop gave me a sympathetic look. "Without evidence, there’s not much we can do. You can’t fight someone like that. The smartest move is to take the money and move on. Life goes on, you know?"
I couldn’t help the bitter laugh that escaped me. I had heard these kinds of words too many times over the years.
My father died when I was young, and my mom raised me by herself. We were always seen as the outsiders, the people no one cared about.
The kids at school made fun of me for the smell of fish that came home with me every day, excluding me, bullying me. My mom took it all, never complaining, and I just stayed quiet, never fighting back.
We had learned to endure just to survive, but it still wasn’t enough. Now, my mom was lying in the ICU, and I wasn’t about to forgive them for what they’d done.
The lawyer handed me another letter, trying again. "This is the reality now. Do you really think Mr. Graham is going to pay for what happened to your mom? You want to keep fighting? We can at least give you 15 thousand dollars for the trouble."
I didn’t want their money. I just wanted the bastard who hurt my mom to pay.
The lawyer’s patience wore thin. “This is the best offer you’re gonna get. If you keep refusing, I can’t help you anymore. Seriously, girl, think about it. It’ll get worse for you if you keep pushing back.”
Right then, my phone buzzed. It was the admissions office. “Sorry, but we’ve canceled your admission. The school is full, and we’re returning your documents.”
I couldn’t believe it. Just last month, the admissions officer came to my house, practically begging me to choose their school. They even offered a tuition discount.
I looked at the lawyer, and suddenly I got it.
“I’m telling you this because you’re young,” he said. “The Graham Family’s got power, so stop thinking about appealing. Losing the spot at that school is just a warning. You’re on your own here.”
He shoved the apology letter in front of me, trying to put the pen in my hand.
I started to wonder—was it really true that they could get away with this? Was it my mom’s fault for selling fish next to Tyler’s stall?
We hadn’t done anything wrong.
I pulled my hand back and shoved him away. “I’m not signing it. The bastard who did this is going down.”
The cops wouldn’t help, so I went to the courthouse. But no lawyer wanted anything to do with my case, so I stayed up all night searching for a complaint template online.
When I finally made it to the court, they kicked me out for not following the right steps.
Then the doctor called, reminding me to pay the bills. My mom was still in the ICU, and the money was disappearing fast. All the savings I’d set aside for college were gone now.
I had to use my dad’s card. After paying, I leaned against the cold wall, drained and completely defeated.
