Light, prolonged

春分 [22] / [33]

One day, she visited Alexander in his office. He was about get in his car in the parking lot. It was almost dark. He found her standing there. She still had swollen eyes and bruises on her body here and there. She stared forward facing him, and began to talk.

"I've waited for you."

"Hello, you're Violet, aren't you? How can I help you?"

"I don't have any place to go."

"What do you mean? I thought you lived in the St Bartholomew orphanage."

Violet shook her head,

"I can't live there."

"Why?"

"There are so many nasty men lurking around. Do you want me to be harmed by another beast?"

"Of course not. What are you talking about? Did you tell what you're suffering to any staff there?"

She shook her head again,

"I just don't like it there."

"I can propose to shift you to another facility then. Come on, girl."

She didn't move, just stared at him directly.

"If you send me back to any facility, I will escape, or kill myself."

He stared at her.

"Then what can I do for you? Tell me."

"I want to stay at your place."

"Nonsense,"

this was too absurd, and he almost laughed her serious tone.

"Why not? You told me that you live alone,"

Violet looked straight at him.

He looked at her eyes, dumbfounded. He probably had said something about him to build rapport with a victim. But he didn't expect her to remember this.

"Did you lie to me?"

she asked, with an expression like she was about to burst into tears.

"No, I do live alone, but I cannot let you in my place."

"Why? Because I am a woman?"

"No, I mean, sorry, to be honest with you, my house is not a day-care center and I'm not fit to take care of anything, or rather, anyone,"

he corrected hurriedly.

"I can take care of myself,"

she replied flatly.

Alexander didn't answer. A few second later, she spoke.

"If I stay at another place, not yours, I'd rather die. If you reject me, then I have no choice. Thank you for everything that you've done for me, sir. I will remember you even after my death."

She turned back to walk away. He sighed. Whether she killed herself after meeting him or lived with him it would be a controversial problem.