Then There Was You by Melanie Dawn Page B

could think was… Alexis.
    Just then, my door burst open. It was Chris, and his eyes were primed to kill. Officer Harris was right behind him¸ but Chris got to me first.
    He ripped Malik off of me and thrust him toward the floor. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, asshole?!” Chris screamed.
    “Get off me, motherfucker!” Malik spit into his face.
    Officer Harris called for backup and tried to pull the boys away from each other
    Two more guards immediately rushed the scene, shackling them, and hauling them both away. I heard Chris yelling, “That shitbag was choking her! Make sure she’s okay!”
    I gasped for air, crumbling onto my sofa. Tears fells from my eyes and dripped onto my cheeks. I’d always been too trusting… too naïve. I thought I could save these boys. I thought I could change them and turn them into good, upstanding citizens. Clearly, I had lofty aspirations, but I wasn’t about to give up. Not yet. My time at Fairbanks wasn’t done. I was holding my throat, already tender from the bruising when Officer Blevins flew into my office in a panic.
    “Oh god, Salem. Are you okay? I just radioed someone from medical. They’re on the way.” Inspecting my throat, he asked, “Are you hurt?”
    Through heaving breaths, I whispered, “Thanks… I’m okay.”
    Officer Harris sank down on the sofa beside me.
    Glaring at him, Officer Blevins boomed, “What happened, Harris?”
    “I’m so sorry,” he said, looking at me regretfully. “I stepped away for just a second. I got distracted talking to Chris. I’m so sorry, Salem.”
    I looked at Officer Blevins. “Barry,” I rasped, resting a hand on my heaving chest. My throat was scratchy as I tried to find my voice. “It’s not… his fault.” Glancing at Officer Harris, I said, “Don’t… beat yourself up.”
    Officer Harris was emphatic. “I’ve never had a reason not to trust the kids in your office. There’s just something about you. You bring out the best in them.”
    Officer Harris then directed his attention to Officer Blevins. “You know as well as I do that Malik is one of the toughest kids in the whole building, but the minute he steps foot into her office, he’s like putty in her hands. I don’t know what happened today. I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I dropped the ball… so sorry.” He hung his head shamefully.
    I took a deep, staggering breath. I’m alive. I’m okay. “I just struck a nerve with him, and he snapped.” My voice had finally returned with some semblance of normalcy. “I think I might have had a breakthrough with him, we’ll see… Give it a few days. I want to talk to him again. I know I can get through to this kid. Please, Barry, don’t write Malik up.”
    “Salem, I can’t… he… he put his hands around your throat. I have to report this.” Barry stared at me, wide-eyed. “He could have killed you.”
    “But he didn’t, Barry. I could see it. That wasn’t anger; that was pain. Just give him a day to think about it. I’ll come and talk to him tomorrow.”
    “I can’t let this slide, Salem,” Barry said resolutely.
    I knew what would happened if Malik got written up—segregation or an extended sentence. Not to mention that Officer Harris could lose his job. I pleaded mercilessly with Barry, who wouldn’t budge in his decision.
    Finally surrendering, I said softly, “I understand. Please, just don’t give Malik a hard time. He’s had a tough life. Just give him a break… for me.”
    Barry nodded, knowing his hands were tied. In this case, his own job was on the line.
    Just then, a medical technician knocked on my door, offering to check me out. Barry and Officer Harris quietly excused themselves. Barry softly patted me on the shoulder then stepped out of my office.
    As they were leaving, I called after Barry, my voice still hoarse from the trauma, “Oh, and tell Chris thank you.” He saved me again.
    “Yes ma’am,” Barry he called back.
    After I was cleared by the