Prologue
"Look at this. It's beautiful when it turns night. I'se always wanted to bring you'se here." I felt Spot's hand slowly slide into my hand holding my hand. Just this moment I forgot about everything. I forgot about my parents abandoning me and placing me on the steps of an orphanage when I was a baby. I even forgot about the gruesome and terrible times I had in that orphanage. I forgot about my hard and tricky escape. It felt just like yesterday when Spot found me lying unconscious on the docks of Brooklyn. He took me in. And cared for me until I was healthy again. It was not until the strike happened when we started to really know each other and to let us in ourselves. He was known to be the key to everything. And this time it just so seems he was the key to opening up my heart to a brand new world. During the strike Spot slowly started to let me into his life more as each day passes on. And it was when the strike ended we just knew we were meant for each other.
It was a carriage ride back to Brooklyn, and not to mention we rode in Teddy Roosevelt's carriage! Which was cool enough! I was watching the scenery go by as I felt someone slide their hand in mine. I looked down and when I looked up I saw Spot giving me this grin as he just watched me. I couldn't take it anymore and just the feelings and emotions clashed and exploded in me. And that was when I said it. Well, both of us said it.
"Spot"
"Aura"
"I love you!"
We were just shocked looking at each other and we didn't care that the governor was watching this. This was love in the making. "I've loved you since the day I found you in the docks. And caring for you gave me a purpose in life. That I should protect you and give you the life you deserve. I want to make you happy. I want to be the boy who would give their everything for their goil. And so Aurelia would you do me the honor of being my goil. Of being my queen."
I was stunned and speechless and tears filled my eyes and eventually splattered and dripped all over my face. I didn't know what to say. But there was only way to say yes. I gently grabbed his face and gently laid a kiss on his soft lips. I eventually felt his hand creep up on my cheek keeping it there. When we got back to Brooklyn I was crowned Queen of Brooklyn. Spot pulled another grey Newsie cap just like his from his pocket. And with me kneeling down like how a knight would. He tapped me on both sides with his cane and gave me my rightful position.
"Everytime I look into your eyes
And everytime when you start to cry
When you heart is blind
I'll be by your side
Just hold tightly onto my hand
When I start to think of you
My wounded hearts starts to beat
And when I see you time starts to freeze
I still think of the days
When I first just met you
It feels so brand new with you"
"I'se still need to finish the rest of our song. But, that all I'se got for you." Spot told me about the song he was trying to work on. He plans to have it sung when we get married. Looking out from the high tower some tears started to form in my eyes. I looked back at him and the back of my hand stroked his cheek and it stayed there as he held it in place. "That's so beautiful."
"I don't want you'se to cry. This is supposed to be a happy moment between the two of us. I also got you'se something. I saved some money while selling papes."
He pulled out a gold, heart-shaped locket with a little butterfly on top of it. He placed it into my left hand as I covered my mouth with my right. "Spot this is so beautiful. Oh my god."
"Open it. You'll find a nice surprise inside it."
When I opened it up I saw a picture of Spot smiling at me. And to the left of the picture there were words engraved on the locket and they said "Always in my heart."
"When you'se feel alone. Just know that I'll always be with you'se. Wherever you'se go. I'm always there."
There was magic and sparks in this night and I thought all of this romance and magic would last forever. But, I was wrong. Very wrong.
One day, I decided to go to Manhattan to check up on Jack and the boys while Spot was selling papes. And it was a normal day just hanging out with the boys over at Tibby's. I sort of lost track of time while we were joking around and playing cards with Race over at the lodging house. It was around 8 pm when I left and I left without an escort. I didn't want to trouble the boys that much. And I was Brooklyn and so if anyone attacked me I could fight back. Nothing hurts Brooklyn. Or so I thought.
I was far from the lodging house but near The World Distribution Center. I couldn't help but spit at the sight of that building. That's where a lot of bad memories occurred. Where the Delancey's turned Crutchy over to the Refuge and where Jack turned into a scab. I felt someone walking close behind me and I could smell cigarette smoke from behind. I turned around and Oscar Delancey was behind me.
"Excuse me sweetface do you need a place to spend the night?"
I rolled my eyes and resumed walking back to Brooklyn. During the strike when Brooklyn answered to the call for help Oscar would have eyes on me all the time. He would try to hook up with me. He tried so hard to gain my love. But he can't have my love. A love between me and Oscar was not meant to be. A Delancey and a Newsie like me can't fall in love. It just wouldn't work. And besides it's not about how you look on the outside. It's more importantly how you look on the inside. And let me tell you Oscar was ugly on the inside and outside.
Suddenly I was pulled into an alley and Morris Delancey was in front of me pinning me down to the brick wall. With his hands firmly on my upper arms. "So where's Spot? What's the Queen of Brooklyn wandering the streets at night?" I heard Oscar snicker at me and I saw his evil grin directed towards me.
"You planned this, didn't you?"
"Hey, there had to be some way to get your attention. And I felt like this is how it should be. Besides what can Spot give you that I can't give?" sneered Oscar.
"Love. True love. The kind that you and your little, slimy brother can't give. Just wait until I tell Spot about this. You'll be too busy picking yourself off the ground and begging for mercy after Spot gives you a good soakin'. You two-timed, slimy, no-good-"
I was stopped of my insults when Morris pulled out a knife and started to cut a small portion of my a tiny scar. "I wouldn't if I were you. Now I have two options to give can eitther give up your life with Spot and come live with me. Or you can become tomorrow's headline. Just wait until word gets out about a dead female corpse lying in the alleys and it just so happens that corpse is the Queen of Brooklyn."
"I would rather die than fall in love with you. But might I suggest adding a third option?" With that remark I headbutted Morris and tried to run out the alley. I felt Oscar grab and twist my wrist. He held me close, so close I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. "Spot's not here to save the day. And it's just me. You and me." I felt his grip tighten on me, I formed a fist with my left hand trying to endure the pain.
Suddenly I heard a something snap. I felt my wrist give way. He did it. He broke it. "This wouldn't have happened if you just said yes my darling." I stomped my foot as hard as I can on Oscar's foot hoping he would release me. He let out a sharp cry of pain. When I had the chance I elbowed him in the gut and made a dash for Brooklyn. Holding and squeezing my wrist in my hand trying to lessen the pain. But, it only made the pain worse. "Oh Aura."
I didn't knew Morris and Oscar was so fast. All I saw was Morris in front of me with his brass knuckles ready. I didn't know how being punched with brass knuckles felt like. The last thing I remembered from that night was Morris punching me in the face and me falling into some debris. I knew I landed hard into some old wooden crates and empty metal cans. And it was all black.
I woke up in an unknown bedroom feeling fuzzy with a throbbing headache. My wrist was bandaged up as well as my head. "How are you feeling? You put up a fight back here?" Two boys were by sitting by the side of my bed. "I'm good. What happened?"
(This is where things go wrong. You'll see why)
"Well some drunk guy tried attacking you. Tried to rape you. You put up a fight back there. It was a good thing me and Morris walked past you. If we weren't there you would've been tomorrow's headline." I looked at them both and strangely I didn't recognize them. I kept looking at both of them frantically. I tried getting up but the pain from my headache wouldn't allow me to get up.
"Whoa. You have to calm down and get some rest. I'll stay with you until you fall asleep or I can just stay with you for the night." The one talking to me seemed nice. His hand was warm but a bit coarse. "Who are you? And where am I?"
The boys looked baffled and all they did was stare at me with open mouths. "I'm Oscar and this is my brother Morris. Do you remember anything at all?" the one named Oscar said. "I don't remember anything. I even don't remember what happened last night." (We're getting closer to what's wrong). "Do you know what your name is?" he asked. I tried thinking but the weird thing is I don't remember that too. "I can't remember. I can't remember anything."
"Then that means you don't remember Spot Conlon." asked Oscar eagerly. "Who?" With that remark both Oscar and Morris's face lit up like I said a joke. "Well it's a good thing that we saved you. From now on you shall live with us. You'll live a better life than the life you lived before. Everything will be new. Including your name. Your name will be Lydia from now on. You'll live as a Delancey. And you won't have to worry about people hurting you because I'll take care of you. I've noticed you roaming the streets and I can't take my eyes off a beautiful woman. That was when I knew you're the one I love." Oscar kept his hand on my cheek as he leaned his forehead on mine.
That's it. That was where everything went wrong. All of my past memories were gone. Wiped out. Like someone took an eraser and erased all of my past memories. I couldn't remember my name or Spot or any of the newsies. But the most important thing is I forgot about myself. I lost myself. I lost who I was.