The Real Beast

Michael looked down at his hand, which I was holding. He seemed to have calmed down a little. He stared at me with his dark brown eyes. I hugged him, and his expression softened. He nodded arrogantly and said, "Go ahead."

I turned around and saw my sad parents behind me. I felt sad too. I smiled and hugged them. I felt my mother's tears wet my shoulders. My father patted me on the back. I tried not to cry.

I didn't know when Michael would allow me to return. I couldn't leave my parents with the last memory of me being sad. They would be sad when they thought of me.

"I'm leaving," I whispered. "Don't worry about me."

Michael would not let me live as free as before for the rest of my life. Obviously, there was still a long way to go, and we needed to find a way to get along.