II: Abigail

Lost.
Broken.
Alone.

Words like that have plagued me almost mah entire life. Ah say almost cuz ah remember being happy. Back when ah was a girl, mah momma took me and mah bubba out to see this movie 'bout a talkin' pig. We had dinner, saw the movie, and then went to this lil' rocky overlook. As the wind passed through mah hair, ah coulda swore ah could fly. Ah felt fine.

Funny how life can change so quickly.

See, mah momma wanted us to know freedom but our paw? Our paw was meaner than a snake. One day while him and momma was arguin'…well..paw got mad. Told momma that as a woman me an' her was s'posta be the home makers while him an' mah brother was s'posta get jobs and make money. In a moment of his anger, he pushed mah momma down the stairs and broke her neck. A lot changed that day. Ah took over cookin' and cleanin', our paw got meaner, and mah brother got meaner. He even changed his name.

Mah brother Husky Wyatt became Bray.

Bray didn't let things slide like he did before. He saw the way paw talked t' me an' he didn't appreciate it none. He told me how sweet and innocent and gentle I was. Then one day he came to me and told me he planned on…planned on…god it's still hard t' say. Bray told me he was gonna smother our paw cuz of the way he treated us. God forbid ah didn't…ah didn't stop him. I watched mah brother use a pillow to smother our father.

For a while it was just us.

One day Bray brought home friends. Ah was sixteen, havin' only ever really seen boys cuza paw an' Bray. Those boys were different. They were tall, muscular from years of work on the land I assumed. One was bald and had a trimmed red beard. The other though? He was handsome, raven black hair reaching his shoulders and a black beard. My first time meetin' these men, Erick and Luke, involved me trippin' over mah own two feet as ah served dinner. It was a disaster.

Only Luke didn't think so.

Luke did everything he could t' get mah attention an' some things he did weren't intended fer that. He brought me flowers and paid compliments which was nice and romantic. It was also nice when he could chop wood out in the yard shirtless or brush by me as ah cooked in the kitchen. By last year, we was engaged an' ah couldn't be happier.

…actually that's a lie. Ah could be.

As lovely as out of town is…the call of Titan City has always appealed t' me. Sometimes ah dream Luke will wanna move t' the city cuz he an' Bray an' Erick spend so much time there. Ah dunno what they do but they do it a lot. Still, there's been no hope from that. So…ah decided t' take mahself t' the city. Ah ain't gonna stay fer long, I can't. But ah need t' get out.

As ah park the car, ah see the glow of neon lights. Mah brothers talked about this place, the Fandango. Apparently it's a dancin' club. As ah enter, ah can see that it surely is. Couples twirl around the floor, engrossed in each other. Ah sit at a table, feelin' underdressed in mah floral sundress. For a while, ah'm alone. Its nice t' listen t' music and sip an iced tea.

But me bein' alone doesn't last long.

A shadow crosses the table an' ah look up t' see a man. He's a little scruffy and his hair is mussed. He too is underdressed, wearin' a black t-shirt and black jeans. "Well you're a pretty face I ain't never seen before. Hair that red, you from Ireland like Sheamus?"

Nervously ah shake mah head, downcastin' mah eyes, "No sir…ah'm not from Ireland…"

"But with an accent like that you aren't from Titan City. Where you from sweetheart?" he grins, pulling a chair out for himself.

"Ah'm from…from outta town…" ah nervously reply, "Ah'm visitin' friends."

"Friends huh? You know, I'm an officer of the law and I was born and raised here in Titan City," the man smiles. "Fuck, where my manners at? I'm Dean Ambrose. You?"

Ah look at him and smile softly. Dean's sorta handsome, not more handsome than mah Luke, but sorta handsome. His eyes are a nice blue that have a mischevious and friendly air. "Its nice t' meetcha Dean. Ah'm Abigail."

"Abigail…that's too formal for you. I'm gonna call you Abby," Dean grins, "What you do for a living Abby?"

"Oh nothin' as excitin' as bein' a cop," ah smile sweetly, "Ah'm a homemaker for my fiancé."

Dean chuckles, holding up his hands defensively, "Woah now, I'm not looking to score. Just thought a pretty lady who comes into The Fandango all alone could use a friend." He pushes himself up. Ah should let him go, let him walk back t' wherever he was before. Ah should but mah hand comes out and lands on his arm.

"Please…some company would be delightful," ah softly say.

For a second ah think the smile that crosses his lips is sisnister but ah dismiss the thought from mah head as he sits back down, "I can give you company."

We talk all night, about everything from movies to food to some of the problems he sees in the city. He's a man with ideas and its refreshin'. As ah get home, ah sit on mah bed facing the window. He invited me to come out again t'morrow. Ah think ah'll go in early. I never expected me, little Abigail Wyatt, t' have a friend.