Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : YoungAdult

I am suffering.  It is a smothering, soul crushing suffering that comes from losing everything.  If you told me a year ago this is where I'd be today, even in my wildest dreams I would never have believed you. 

I quickly scan my duffel bag to make sure I remembered everything I'd need before I zip it. I have to be methodical and professional, and leave nothing to chance. I'm riding a permanent wave of adrenaline at this point, my pulse pounding in my ears is the constant reminder of that.  Still,  there's a job to be done.

Stepping out into the crisp fall air, I'm cloaked by the early evening darkness afforded to me by the season.  At least there's that going for me.  I have to make this quick and get the hell out of here. Hiding in the shadow along the side of neighborhood across the street, all is pretty quiet for a 7 pm weeknight. I reach into my bag and tug a black ski mask over my head and pull out my gun. The silencer made it awkwardly longer but I liked how it made the piece feel sturdier in my hand.  Just need one shot, I thought. One shot and I could live again. 

Carefully aimed and focused on my target sitting at his computer at the dining room table in the house across the street, I press my finger against the trigger and no sooner do I fire, I realized my grave mistake. The man at the computer is not my target but the one who had just stepped into the dining room who was now covered in someone else's blood was! Frozen for a minute, I finally willed my legs to get me out of there and into the woods behind the new development where my car was waiting.  Angry with myself for standing there too long after my shot, I prayed no one had seen me.  I'll never get another shot at him like this one and I might as well have stood out there with a neon sign pointing right at me.

I could hear sirens in the distance and could just imagine the chaos going down. I lower my speed so I don't draw attention to myself but I'm too late and I see flashing blue lights in my rearview...