Catch Me If You Can
He had been an alcoholic addicted to gambling and only knew how to hurt me and Mom.
After he'd beaten Mom to death and become burdened by a child he hadn't wanted, he had planned to sell me off.
I had seen it happen to others—girls clutching red roses, waiting to be taken away by strangers. If no one had taken the flower, they would be sold straight into the district.
One by one, people had walked by, yet no one had taken the rose from my hand. Dad had grown angry and cursed me for being useless.
"I should have ended you as well!" he had spat while dragging me toward the doorway.