Chapter 10
One year later.
I stood in the doorway of the new gym.
*Carter & Reed Community Center*.
My name and Marcus's.
We'd opened it with money from the victim compensation fund and donations from people who'd heard our story.
It was a place for kids from the neighborhood.
A place to learn to fight.
But also a place to learn respect. Discipline. Self-worth.
A place to learn that you don't have to hurt people to survive.
My mom walked in.
She looked good. Healthy. Strong.
Her dialysis was working. Her color was back.
She smiled when she saw the kids hitting the bags. Laughing. Learning.
"You did good, baby," she said.
"We did good," I said.
Marcus came over. Lila was with him. She was eight now. Her hair was growing back from chemo. She was bright and beautiful and alive.
"The mayor is here," Marcus said. "For the grand opening."
I nodded.
We walked out together.
The mayor said some nice words. Cut the ribbon.
The crowd cheered.
But I wasn't really listening.
I was looking at the kids.
At Lila, running around with the other children.
At my mom, talking to some of the parents.
At Marcus, laughing as he showed a little kid how to wrap his hands.
I thought about that cage.
About The Tank.
About the blood and the pain and the fear.
I thought about the moment I thought I'd have to kill or be killed.
And I looked at where I was now.
Free.
Whole.
Loved.
Justice had been served.
Vincent was in prison for life.
The corrupt administrators were behind bars.
The system had been exposed and changed.
And I had built something good.
Something real.
Something that would outlast all the pain.
My mom squeezed my hand.
"Proud of you," she whispered.
I squeezed back.
And for the first time in as long as I could remember...
I felt completely safe.
May you like
Completely loved.
Completely at peace.
