[Writing Prompt] Trevor

Word Prompt: Relinquish

A single word meant to inspire immediate thought. Write what your imagination dictates.

I thought back to that time often. We were so young, so carefree. Things had definitely changed.

That time, long ago, when I gave in and did something for myself was one of the few happy memories I had left. Back then, things were easier. There was no drama or pain, there was only us. It was easy. I found that I longed for that time back, but the world doesn’t work that way.

He was gone from my life now, never to return. He’d been taken in a brutal way. It hurt to think that I wouldn’t see him again. It always hurt. Despite the years that passed, I thought about him often.

I’d been so resistant to him at first. I thought if I was standoffish toward him, he’d leave me alone, but damn it, he was persistent. No matter how rude I was to him, no matter how much of a bitch, he kept coming back—like a weed that you pluck and pluck only to find it growing in your garden a few days later.

I didn’t begrudge him for his persistence. I liked him after all, but my parents would have never allowed us to be together. They hated people like him, and no matter how he fought, they would push him away eventually.

Whenever he asked why I didn’t want to see him, I was always honest. I tried to tell him what my parents would do, but he refused to listen. He said we could be together anyway. I didn’t believe him, of course, but I didn’t want to say no either.

So when, after months, he asked me out again, I relented. What could I say? I was tired of resisting him.

That first date was something I don’t think I’ll ever forget. We went to see Freddy vs. Jason on opening night. I remember he had to call the theatre and reserve us tickets before they sold out. I never expected a movie like to be so popular, but when we got to the theatre, the line was wrapped around the building.

The movie was fun, not good, but fun. He kissed my cheek and got me home before my parents got back from their trip.

We saw each other a few more times, and I enjoyed every second I spent with him. Eventually, I gave him my virginity.

My brothers were the ones who ruined everything. I can’t blame them though. I should have known better than to trust either of them. I shouldn’t have been surprised that they told my parents about my secret.

The beating I got for that secret was the worst they’d ever given me. Afterward, my mom slapped me in the face and told me that she couldn’t believe I didn’t have more respect for her. My dad forbad me from seeing Trevor ever again.

When I told Trevor the news, he didn’t listen. He decided to sneak over to my house and see me. My dad was waiting with .00 buckshot. When he saw Trevor start to climb the trellis, he popped up out of the bushes and shot.

Trevor didn’t make it.

My dad didn’t have to face any punishment for what he did. He told the police that he thought Trevor was coming to hurt me. The police didn’t listen to me when I tried to counter what he said. My dad had already told them about how much of a bad kid I was. How I never did dishes, or cleaned my room. How I snuck out of the house to see Trevor. How I spent the money I was making at work to buy a CD player.

By the time my dad was finished talking to them, my mom had me believing that I was going to jail.

I didn’t even know what I’d done.

The day I turned eighteen, I moved out. I ran as fast and as far as I could, all the way back to St. Louis. My best friend in the whole word took me in and thus began my life as an independent adult.

Things are different now. I’m different.

I have a new life with a kid and a husband, but I think about Trevor often.