Page 3 of Armor

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I let one single tear trail down my cheek at the loss of the woman who was our mother.

And then I nodded.

She wouldn’t have any more bruises.

She wouldn’t have any more broken bones.

She wouldn’t have any more bloody noses.

She wouldn’t have to force a smile and tell us everything was going to be alright.

I looked at my father, who was smirking down at her coffin as they covered her with the first layer of dirt.

Age 15

Sadly, I hadn’t only lost my mother that day.

No, I started to slowly lose my Annabelle as she was becoming drawn into herself.

Staying in her room.

Not talking.

Only wearing black.

And wearing full-covering clothing.

It took me too long to figure out why.

Until she seemed to flip the script.

Age 16

She was acting out again.

I didn’t know what to do.

Until that day, on the morning of my eighteenth birthday.

Age 18

Her sobs...

I bolted into the house.

Her bedroom door was closed.

Locked.

I kicked it open.

Hewas on top of her.

I. Saw. Red.

Chapter 2

Creedence

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