Red_Roses_and_Black_Dahlias_-_Macy_T

All I cared about was the wave of fucking relief I felt slam into me as
soon as I saw Valentina’s black hair and askew beanie emerge from behind
the bushes where I supposed she had been hiding this whole time. I ended the
call.
“Valentina, oh my God.”
I all but ran to her and picked her off the ground. I didn’t even realize
how tight I was squeezing her, I just needed to feel she was there and that it
wasn’t my imagination playing tricks on me.
“I-I’m so sorry. I was scared, everyone was yelling. They’re taking Sofia
to jail, it’s not fair!” She started sobbing against my shoulder even as her
arms circled my neck and she hugged me.
“Shhh, don’t cry, pretty girl.” I rubbed circles on her back, inhaling her
sweet scent of roses and honey.
“She did what she had to do! They deserved it! They hurt us! Please don’t
take her away, she did it to protect me.” She went on crying and I frowned.
“Valentina, what did those women do?”
She was silent for a moment then sniffed and pulled slightly away so she
could look me in the eyes. Hers were full of tears and it enraged me. I never
wanted to see her cry again.
“They—they said really mean things to Sofia. And me. They called me a
spawn and said they didn’t want me to be like Sofia and that they would call
CPS.” Watery eyes and trembling lips stared back at me as I could feel my
anger flaring.
Those bitches. Those fucking bitches.
“Nobody is taking you away from us, pretty girl, I promise you.”