My fingers shake as I strain to read all the names. Some of them leave messages related to their sins, others write just their names and brands. I can hardly believe my eyes as I take it all in.
Jerry Piagentini. I was born here. I don’t remember my parents. I grew up on the streets, working odd jobs for guards to make enough to eat. I’ll probably die here. Life is hopeless.
Kristen Dayspring, Lust. From High Society, formerly known as NYC. I was accused the night of my 18th birthday by my best friend. I had a party while my parents were away, and she was jealous of the gift her boyfriend got me. I liked him, I’ll even admit to wanting him … but it wasn’t worth it. I never got to say goodbye to my mom and dad. If you ever meet them, tell them I love them.
“Did you know her?” Cole asks.
“No, I don’t recognize the name.”
Cole lapses into silence, and I wonder what he’s thinking.
“After Keegan left, I wasn’t allowed out much. I think my mom was afraid of losing me too.”
“Huh, isn’t that ironic,” he says quietly.
“Yeah, tell me about it. Keegan forgave her for everything before he died … Sometimes I wish I could do the same. But I’m still angry with her for sending me here. How can I not be?”
“Lexi, you can’t hold on to that anger,” he says. “Trust me. You might end up doing something that later on you’ll deeply regret. Forgiving someone who hurt you is hard as hell to actually do, but in the end, it brings you the kind of relief you need to move on. Like when you close a book, so you can open up a new one. I have no clue where that weird metaphor just came from.” He gives a small chuckle.
I laugh at him. “Well, I can’t bring myself to do that just yet… but forgiving also applies to forgiving yourself.”
Cole’s jaw twitches as my words silence him. He looks away, swallowing hard.
Suddenly, my mind flashes to a quote from the book Alyssa read before her death, The Last Silk Dress. It’s in one of the scenes where the daughter, Susan, tries to rationalize her tumultuous relationship with her mother. The words come back to me, hitting me like lightning.
“And it was too late for me to decide that I could forgive her for anything. Or hope that she would forgive me. She didn’t want my forgiveness. She didn’t want me.”
“It’s no wonder Alyssa thought of me when she read that book,” I whisper to myself. I wish I knew where it was now. I shake my head and turn to watch Cole, but he’s completely caught up in reading the various stories written on the wall, his hand stretching out to one in particular.
“Hey,” I say. Cole’s head snaps up as he drops his hand from the wall.
“Yeah?”
“Do you think there’s anything here to write with? There’s something I need to do.”
He presses his lips together for a moment. “Let me see what I can find.”
Cole’s eyes jump around the room. Zeus lifts his head from the couch as fluff topples from his head. Everything’s a mess. Blankets and clothing are tangled on the floor. Zeus has shredded the pillows beyond use. One of the end tables is overturned, and crudely made silverware is scattered around the living space in front of the couch.
“Here, found something,” Cole says. He strides over to the corner of the room, flicks a quick glance out the window, and picks up a black marker. “How about that, sucker?” He flings it to me.
“Perfect, thank you.” I catch it, unscrew the cap, and then I reach up to my tiptoes to find space for my name. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cole watching me closely. I lean my head back and begin writing.
Lexi Hamilton, Lust. In love with Cole Veneti, a former guard. Falsely accused, but it no longer matters to me who they think I am. Brands don’t define who you are, you have the power to decide that on your own. I might be damaged, but I’m not broken. Believe me, you can overcome anything short of death.
When I finish, Cole’s waiting, holding out his hand. His jaw’s set, and his brown eyes focus with intensity. I hand over the marker and watch as he easily stretches up and begins to write.
Cole Veneti, unbranded, but I’ll be damned if I don’t deserve to be branded with every one of the seven sins. Former guard turned resistance member with Zeus, the best dog you’ve ever met. Lexi Hamilton rescued me from the hellish life I was living. I’m sorry for the past, but I hope to redeem myself this time around. If we manage to band together and stop hating each other, then we can beat the system. NEVER GIVE UP HOPE.
He stands back, rereading his words, and I take his hand in mine. We don’t speak, but I feel stronger standing here, just holding his hand. Just having him by my side blows my mind. Evil brought us together, but love makes us whole.