The Spark

I paused and shook my head. “Did you know that when you’re looking for something, you always look from left to right? You never start sca

I picked imaginary lint from my pants. “Do you know how hard it is to see the face of the man who raped you on video over and over again? Especially when he’s laughing and having a good time in them, and you realize he’s probably laughing and having a good time right now, too. While I, I’d just thrown up my di

I took another deep breath and studied Braden’s face. What I saw made me smile. I was certain the smile came off as insane, but I didn’t give a shit.

I tapped the skin at the corner of my left eye. “You just twitched. It was very slight, because I assume you’ve gotten better at hiding your tells over the years, but I saw it. I forgot to mention that while studying those videos, I also learned that you felt extremely threatened by my father and your own father.” I pointed to the corner of his eye. “It’s a little hard to see today, surrounded by all that black and blue and bruising, but it was there. You’re feeling threatened right now.”

Braden spoke through gritted teeth. “Don’t flatter yourself. The muscle in my eye is probably damaged, which causes involuntary twitching. I’ll make sure to note that in my civil suit against the thug you’re dating—after I make sure he’s locked up.”

“Sure, that’s it.” I smiled and looked at my nails. “Anyway, I just wanted to let you know a few things more. First, you ruined my life for six years. I blamed myself for not seeing things in you, and because of that I kept my distance from anyone I might’ve had a real co

I’d been on an adrenaline high since I walked in, but now I felt the inevitable crash starting to take root. So I knew it was time to go. Standing, I smoothed out my pants and looked up at the face that haunted my dreams for so many years. It was fitting that it was beaten and bruised.

“Goodbye, Braden.”

I made it almost to the door when he yelled after me. “That’s it? You’re not even going to beg for leniency for your boyfriend?”

I turned back. “I begged you to stop once, so I already know how that goes. I’ll save my breath to pray for the other survivors. Because I’m sure I’m not the only one you did this to.”

The corner of his eye twitched, and his jaw tightened.

“I thought so,” I said. “Rot in hell, rapist.”