Free The Drazen World: Irrelevant (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Allyn Lesley Page A

what they’re saying because eventually their words drift my way.
    “I heard that was his mistress,” someone nears me says.
    “Did you hear she was forced to have a threesome with them? Poor Mon. What that woman suffered through.”
    Tears gather at the back of my eyes again at the vicious lie. The rumors, the gossip, and the innuendos all make me want to disappear, but surrounded as I am, there’s no way these two women will allow me to leave with my self-respect intact and my dignity not in shreds as they believe I deserve.
    “I wonder if she has someone I can pass my number on to.”
    The man audaciously winks my way, then uses his hands as a phone, mouthing call me .
    “You’ll regret you stepped in here with your knock-off designer shoes in that cheap polyester suit, you low-life whore.” Monica grips me right above my elbow. Pain shoots out when she yanks me closer to her body. “Now get out of here before you regret being born ... even more.”
    The lewd jeers behind me, the convoluted lies ... I snap. “I heard you. In the library.” I remember every word, have every scent memorized, and if I hear that mysterious man’s voice, I can identify it even while blindfolded. I may not know the name of the man, but I’m confident what I heard incriminates Monica in some kind of plot. Deep down, I know the truth even if I’ll never be able to prove it. “That’s the last time you put your hand on me. You had something to do with this, and you pushed me down those stairs. And if you ever threaten me again, I’ll be the first person at the police station.”
    Color drains from her face. Her eyes are the size of saucers when she removes her glasses with her pale, shaky hands.
    “Now, move your two-bit whoring self out of my way.” All the years of mistreatment, untruths that caused me to doubt my self-worth, the name calling ... Rage powers through my heart, and I’m one more breath from calling her out publicly. She wisely does as I ask. “You and your no-good mother have been clear from the start. You want nothing to do with me. That’s fine.” Beside me, Marie’s a ball of nervous energy, fidgeting her fingers against the fabric of her dress. “I didn’t intrude on your life, sister . Your heartless mother here sold my services to save her sorry behind.”
    One of her hands is in the air about to land against the side of my face.
    Through my brave lips, I say, “I dare you. It’ll be the last time you use that hand again, Monica.”
    “Mrs. Drazen, don’t make a scene. There are people watching.” The man’s words are aimed at Monica, but he’s staring at me.
    She seems to come back to herself, lowering her hand then pushing her glasses back over her black eyes. “ Then do your job and get her the hell out of here!” She stares at me for a long time then says, “If I never see your face again, it’ll still be too soon.”
    “Likewise.” I turn away from the last of my family and follow behind the man with my head down. Then I remember Jon’s words.
    Walk with your head held high. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.
    So I do. I raise my chin higher, lifting my head up while the whispers trail me, haunting me as I’m shown to the side door of the church. I don’t leave through it, choosing to walk another path, through the door I entered before.
    I refuse to feel cheap or to be treated as if I’m trash. Good, bad, or indifferent, Jon loved me. Me. And I’m worth walking through any door I choose, and I won’t ever choose the side door.

Twelve
     
    Time moves slowly but it does move on. I go through the mundane like waking up, eating, and going to bed. I fill the rest of the hours with going to work. With each new sunrise that greets my replanted Asters in my new but small garden, a new Katie emerges. There’s a new zest in my step since my run-in with Monica and Marie. Standing up to them reinvigorated me. I surprised myself that day, but I no longer feel like an encroacher,