PERCIE I laid back on the cold tiled bench with my arms as my pillow. I looked up at the gray ceiling without anything in my thoughts. I was bored to death for the last five hours, locked up for punching my boss in the face. He hit his wife in front of his car repair shop where I worked as a mechanic--well, used to, since he just fired me. Who was in the fucking hell hurt women if not some losers like him? I didn’t like people hitting women because they would look misogynistic. When I saw him yell at his wife, my fists developed brains on their own. Whatever she did, that didn’t give him the right to hit her. He could confront her privately, but he was an asshole. My anger took over me. So, I punched him before I even realized I did it, which resulted in me getting arrested for physical assault.  I didn’t enjoy seeing women being abused, bullied, and men thought that made them stronger. Women were born to be loved and respected u

PERCIE     Fifteen months ago… We were in an accident. My ears still tingled from the silence after the impact.  I couldn’t move. Emma was pressed against me.  “E-Em?” I coughed. My voice trembled. “Em?” My throat choked up.  She didn’t respond. She didn’t move.  I wanted to shake her badly, but I was so weak to do so. I smelled blood. It rolled down my temple to my face and neck.  The smoke started to sting my nostrils.  I started to hear noises from outside the car. The commotion escalated.  The sirens of the ambulance resounded.  Although my eyes were blurry, I whirled my gaze around and saw a bunch of heads surrounding us and the flashes of lights.  I thought I was okay. I could still remember the paramedics who arrived and took me from the collision. Unfortunately, Emma wasn’t. I w

PERCIEFifteen months ago…“I knew what you have, Emma. I knew about your condition. Why can’t you blame me? Yell at me or hate me? It makes me guiltier. Why do you have to be so cool about this?” I shook my head and stood up from her bed. I scratched my head out of frustration.“You sound okay with this. I hate seeing you like this. It’s killing me, Emma. Tell me why it’s so easy for you to accept all of these?” My voice rose a little.Her lips quivered. Jesus. Nothing in this world I did right. I settled beside her again as I dwelled my own agony.“I’m sorry, Em. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to put myself in this situation. I don’t even know what to do with myself without you. I don’t mean to yell at you. I’m just so frustrated and lost that I am so useless to you.” I kissed her forehead. ”Emma, I love you

PERCIE     I called Grandpa that night after coming home from dinner at Ward’s house.  “Are you sure it’s a good idea to live with a young woman on the same roof? I’m not worried about you, but about that girl. She’s a cop’s daughter, Percival.” He sighed from the other line. “And what is the problem there? She won’t stay here long once she finds a roommate.”  “And if she won’t? You’re a young man, Percival. How about the temptations? When was the last time you get laid? Or jerked off yourself?”  My face heated with embarrassment. Why grandpa had to remind me of my boring sex life? Jeez.  “Jesus, Grandpa. Can we not talk about my sex life, please?” I rolled my eyes. This is not the topic I wanted to talk about with him, but he had a point.  “Up to you, Percival, but if it helps you improve your social skills, then go ahead. Just treat her right, and behave, okay?”

PERCIE     Thirteen months ago… I left that day from rehab, defeated, but it wouldn’t stop me from seeing her again. I wanted to prove that it was a stupid mistake. And I had no plan on doing it again. Despite my defeat, I still had one reason to move forward. My grandparents brought me to my new apartment. I didn’t even know that Grandpa was busy furnishing while I was busy trying to kill myself. The fully furnished two-bedroom apartment met my taste. The black leather couches in the small living room with 46” flat tv screen mounted on the wall, a 60” framed art poster of my favorite football team, taken during their championship game. A small kitchen with stainless steel appliances and what caught my attention was the latest coffeemaker. Then the coal-colored cupboards, countertops, and kitchen island. My dark blue-colored bedroom had queen size bed, two nightstands, and a closet of the same color. There wa