Hello everyone,

Thanks so much for joining me in this short story. The truth is, I'm really not sure how long it will be but I appreciate you being a part of it.

My cousin: my cousin's name was Justin, and that is why I named Edward's son that. Justin was a sweet, goofy guy with a huge heart. He was my very first babysitting job. I love and miss him very much.

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Edward-

A calm fell over me as I walked into the bank. I'd been in there a million times, and knew exactly where the cameras were, and how they were angled. I tucked my head down close to my chest until I made it through the front doors, my blood roaring in my ears as I gripped the brim of the mask.

Tension melted from my body as I watched everything happening in slow motion.

I pulled the mask over my face. My voice was foreign to me as I lifted the gun.

"Put your hands in the fucking air." Several faces turned toward me, eyes going wide with terror, and through the fog clouding my brain, I heard myself say, "Don't anybody move, or I will pull the fucking trigger."

To emphasize my threat I aimed the gun at a young man's chest. Perhaps later I would be amazed by my ability to keep a steady hand considering my stomach was flipping and flopping with mounting anxiety. Right then, however, he gritted his teeth, the air burning through his nostrils as the intensity of the situation bore down on me.

I hurried across the lobby, my frantic gaze darting from the woman standing in the cubby to the three tellers behind the counter. "Keep your fucking hands visible or I will shoot." Throwing the duffle bag on the counter, I gestured towards the bag with the tip of the nine. "Put the money in the bag, and don't try anything funny."

When the young blonde woman seemed frozen in shock or fear, I growled louder, grabbing the woman standing two feet away. I yanked her up against my chest, saying next to her ear, "If you move I will shoot one of them." My eyes filled with exhaustion and worry as I stared coldly at the teller. "I said to fill the goddamn bag."

The woman in my arms was stiff, yet she didn't struggle. Her gasp echoed in my ear as I gripped her hard, my fingertips biting into her arm.

Finally, an older woman, wearing a floral print dress behind the counter flew into action. I watched as stacks of cash were thrown into the bag all while mentally counting down how much time I had before the alarm went off. I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached but I powered through, "Hurry the fuck up."

A startled cry erupted from the woman in my arms as I reached past her and grabbed the bag. Wrapping a firm grip in her dark curls, I urged her backward as I turned toward the door. "Keep your hands in the air, or I will shoot her."

Regret and shame filled me as I pointed the gun at her temple. Her entire form trembled against me and I felt like an asshole jerking her out the glass door and forcing her into a run towards my car.

Of course, as I shoved her in the front seat, she decided to come alive, struggling back as I pushed her inside. "Get the fuck in there, or I will have no choice but to shoot you." Staring into wide frightened green eyes, I wished frantically, "I don't want to shoot you."

To my profound thanks, she did as I said, covering her face with shaking hands. Dumping the bag into the backseat, I hurried around the car, the gun waving toward the windshield in case she got any bright ideas.

The panic was back as I threw myself into the front seat, and with a crazed sidelong glance at the woman next to me, I sped out of the parking lot. Fighting to breathe past the anxiety clawing at my chest, I ripped the mask from my head.

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