What Doesn’ 12

What Doesn’ 12

Chapter 12 

Laria’s façade crumbled completely. Her voice climbed into a desperate

Please, Hektor, don’t hurt me,she sobbed, mascara streaming down her face

Hektor swayed on his feet, his shirt soaked crimson. He seemed not to hear her pleas at all

Instead, he plunged the knife into her stomach. Once. Twice. Again and again

Blood spattered across my face and clothes

Kira burst through the doorway at the sounds. Seeing the carnage before her, she froze midstep, her hand flying to her mouth

Only when Laria collapsed into a lifeless heap did Hektor finally stop. He turned to me, his eyes fevered and unfocused

She can’t hurt you anymore,he whispered, his voice eerily calm. I killed herfor your mother. For you. That’s what you wantedright? Am I forgiven now?” 

His legs gave out and he crumpled to his knees, dropping the knife with a clatter. His bloodslicked hand reached toward me

Slowly, deliberately, I walked forward

A flicker of desperate hope lit his face as I leaned down, my lips almost brushing his ear

I will never forgive you,I whispered softly. Not in this lifetime or any other.” 

The light in his eyes died with my words. He closed them slowly as his body pitched forward onto the concrete

Hektor didn’t die that day

The police responding to Laria’s attack got him to the hospital in time to save his body, if not his mind

After his physical recovery, he was transferred to a highsecurity psychiatric facility

His mother appeared at my door countless times afterward, the imperious socialite replaced by a broken woman

She begged me to visit Hektor, insisting it might help his condition

I studied this womanher hair turned white overnight, her face carved with new lines of sufferingand said

The mighty Hektor Reed, needing someone like me to save him? I don’t think so.” 

Mrs. Reed left in defeat, her shoulders hunched with disappointment. I watched her go without a flicker of emotion

After my exoneration, the authorities issued a formal public apology

The art world welcomed back its prodigal daughter with open arms, critics falling over themselves to praise my resilience.” 

But I made a decision: for the rest of my life, I would never sell another painting

Instead, I chose to stay in that small town and accepted a position teaching art at the local elementary school

Watching the innocent expressions on my students faces gave me a reason to keep going 

Having lost everything I once valued, I chose to use whatever time I had left to contribute something meaningful to the world 

Even when life drives you to the darkest depths, you can always choose to turn your face toward

light 

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger 

What Doesn’

What Doesn’

Status: Ongoing Type: Native Language: English

What Doesn’

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