Killian

Henry stopped. I placed a hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong, mate? Something wrong?"

Henry shook his head. "No. Its just that...can we go back to the diner. My mom will kill me if I went somewhere without her permission. I think she might be working by the cashier now."

"Alright. I wouldn't want an angry parent jumping into conclusions myself. God knows I go through those types of people every day of my life."

The two of us turned back and stopped at the sidewalk. Henry straightened the straps of his back pack. "What do you exactly do for a living? What's your occupation exactly?"

"Well, I own a club. You could describe it as a casino I guess, but its usually for parties and full-time nightclubs. My occupation is just...Just really a business man, a lucky one actually."

Henry frowned. "Lucky? Why are you lucky?"

"Long story short, kid. I was a kid like you, I set out on ship with my pal and my high sweetheart. But reality always hits after you turn eighteen. The future that I am in now is very rare for it to happen...I won a lottery and I build up my own company. It was pretty hard at first because I was only twenty three with no college degree in marketing or business, and "the business world" doesn't really trust right away to such determined, young unprepared people like me. But I befriended some good allies and made my company possible. So here I am."

The light turned to the walking sign. The two of us started to walk across the street. Henry scratched his head. "You know that's funny. Killian. That name seems familiar. I heard my mom say that name over the phone one time."

"Oh. I guess my name isn't one of a kind."

The two of us passed the two blocks and arrived in front of the diner. I slipped my hands in my pockets. "Henry you can go in, I'll wait for you outside."

Henry nodded and went inside.I paced back and forth slowly, taking a glimpse through the glass window of the diner. Henry was talking to Ruby again.

"Come on! Breathe! Breathe!" A voice shouted. I turned around and followed where the voice was coming from. I took quiet steps on the right side of the diner, near the garbage disposal. My eyes widened by the sight of this scene; a man was on top of an incautuious woman and pounding his palms against her chest. Without thought, I grabbed the man's shoulders and tossed him aside. He landed face down, I grabbed hold of his wrists and pulled him up. He struggled to fight back, but I pushed him hard against the wall.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?! You filthy bastard!"

The man tried to turn his head and began to shake himself to break free. "I was trying to help her, man! Haven't you heard of CPR?!"

I looked down at the woman, still holding him steady. Her hair was covering her face, but I could see that she was not breathing. I instantly released the man. "Sorry, mate. I misunderstood what you were trying to do."

The man stood properly now and brushed off his jacket. Now I that I have a closer look at him, he seems to be a college student. "Yeah, sure. Like any idiot will assault a woman outside in public for all to see."

He went on his knees and checked the woman's pulse. I went on my knees too. "Did you call the police?"

"A minute ago...But I think its pointless," he dropped his hand from her Adam's apple, "she's already dead. Her skin is getting cold, and its growing to an unnatural color."

I looked at the woman pitifully. I never witnessed a dead body before, well just once. The day my father died, I was sleeping in my room and I received a phone call from him. My dad wanted me to go to the car shop and drop him off a pack of beer. I obeyed and arrived at the shop. I went inside and found my dad laying flat on the floor with a knife planted in his chest. I dropped the cans of beer and rushed to his side. He grabbed the collar of my shirt and spat on my face; telling me to go call the ambulance. I asked him how this happened. But he didn't answer. I found the phone on his desk and dialed 911. As the two of us waited, I tried to avoid the fresh blood spattered all over my pants and shirt. It was hard to touch him, but he grabbed my hand and squeezed the life out of it as the inflaming feeling arise in his body. For some reason, I began to pity him. Even though he yelled nasty words and spat blood on my face till he died, I felt such sorrow than anger and irritation. The blood on my hands and clothes didn't bother me anymore, at that moment. But it hurt me instead when dad's eyes were wide open without blinking.

I examined the woman's hands to see if she was married. But there is no ring in her finger. I at least should find out her identity before the police does. Its not very proper to inform someone's death by a phone call or a five second visit to their family's home. I brushed her hair away from her face.

I gasped. "...Emma..."

Suddenly, the back door from the diner opened. My pale face turned to the door, and Henry and Ruby came out. I watched Henry with wide eyes.

"Mom!" He yelled. He ran down the two step stairway and went on his knees beside Emma.

I looked down at Emma, and back at Henry...This. Is. Emma. Everything was a disguise. Everything that was kept as a secret was this. A child. A crappy job at a diner. A crummy, dark apartment. This is the truth. This is her life, the secret she kept from me...and Jefferson. All she wanted was all her problems to resolved to be with a wealthy man. Is this what it is?