The Leverager

by C. L Masonite

  “I’m so sorry, broder, I’m so, so, sorry,” Hendrik said, rocking him. Micah’s small body shook in his arms, and I started to cry when I realized he was crying. I got up out of bed and hugged them both, and the three of us cried but in the best kind of way.

  Two months later

  PROFESSOR EDWARDS HADN’T failed me like I thought he would. I told him about what had happened to me and why I could no longer treat Micah and he told me he would grade me on my existing efforts. Also, he said that for the duration of the program that I had to be my own patient.

  And he was right. I voluntarily, signed myself up to stay at Hale Institution where I dealt with losing Katia all over again. I also dealt with the fact that my mother had betrayed me. But mostly I dealt with the memories of my assault.

  Hendrik had visited me each and every day, bringing along Micah. Sentry had come through with his side of the deal, and Hendrik now had full custody of Micah.

  It was my first day out of Hale Institution and I knew exactly what I wanted. And who I wanted. And nothing and no one was going to stop me. Hendrik had dropped off Micah at school before he picked me up and took me to his apartment.

  I led him to his bedroom and he paused, not stepping over the boundary line. “Are you sure?” he asked with trepidation.

  “I decided to learn some Swedish during my convalescence,” I said, ignoring his heart-warming look. “I read online about this beautiful Swedish proverb: Älska mig när jag minst förtjänar det, eftersom det är då jag verkligen behöver det,” I quoted.

  “Translated, it means love me when I least deserve it because that’s when I need it most. Hendrik,” I said lifting my hands to his chest. “You’ve loved me when I was at my weakest, when I needed it most. I want to love you at your best,” I said, kissing his cheek. “And I also want to love you at your worst,” I said, kissing his other cheek. “I want to love you in all the in-betweens and all the other times,” I said fusing my lips with his.

  He ended the kiss, and I looked away, not sure I could endure another rejection from him. So, I was looking down at the floor, and the meaning didn’t escape me when he took one step, then another over the boundary line, effectively breaking the peace treaty. Then he closed the door behind us, closed all the blinds and made sweet love to me. It was so sweet I cried, and when I did he kissed away every tear and whispered, “Mitt hjärta, min skatt, mitt liv, mitt allt.” When I told him my understanding of the Swedish language didn’t extend beyond my newly learned proverb and his extensive use of swear words, he shut me up with a kiss. Then he drew his mouth to my ear and whispered, “In English, it means my heart, my treasure, my life, my everything.”

  And I cried again.

  Six years later

  “SO I KNOW you’ve heard from me about a thousand times about how I’m a social worker, so I’ll just skip and get to the interesting part. Katia, this is baby Talia, Hendrik and I officially adopted her today. If you were still alive you would be her godmother, but since you aren’t, Sev, Jarek, and Mikhail fought over it, and we eventually came to an agreement. They’d equally be her godfathers down here, and you’d be her honorary godmother looking over her from above, in the sky.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she knows all about you,” I said as I laid a yellow lily on her grave and another one on Evelina’s beside her.

  Talia gurgled in my arms, and I brought her to my neck and cuddled her. Hendrik had his arm over my shoulder, and Micah was hugging my side. “Until next time,” I whispered, as we turned around together, and even though the wind carried away my words I knew Katia knew I would be coming back. Just like I always did.

  THE END

  Thank you to everyone that has supported and encouraged me to keep on writing. Thank you Mum, Dad, Martie and Dimity. Thank you Mary for buying all my books, and to George (no I didn’t include your guinea pigs in the storyline – but maybe next time).

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