in-a-world-of-my-own-creation
Just maybe Kara would be the one person he’d be willing to open up to. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. It might be nice to have someone listen and that goes both ways.” Sure, they met only a short while ago, but he felt as if they were quickly starting to form a connection. “It sounds like they were great people. I’m sorry you lost them. I can’t say much about the two who adopted you, but one thing I do know is no one truly compares to your mother and father, especially when they’re as good as you say.” Winn knew he couldn’t think the same regarding his. Mary’s sudden abandonment, was exactly that, sudden and unexpected. And Winslow, the two of them were so alike, then one day he snapped. Nothing had been the same since.
“Something I learned firsthand,” Winn admitted. Plenty of orphans dealt with the same thing, only his escapes had been fueled with a want to stray from his dad’s path and ending up in jail did the opposite. “The more kids in the Refuge, the more money the city sends to take care of them, the more the warden sticks in his pocket. What does he care if they get little food? And the punishments, they’re a bit extreme. If I had the money, I’d do the same thing – get all of them out and someplace safe.” But he lacked the power to do much of anything. Instead he gave whatever he could. The system wouldn’t change if there wasn’t anyone willing to stand up and fight. Winn was a nobody with nothing to his name, who would listen to him? Perhaps if it was in the paper, people would start paying attention.
“I’m angry about it too, so no apologies needed.” He kept his fingers interlocked with hers, reluctant to let his hand detach. Regardless, her agreeing to meet up the next day gave reason to smile, though it seemed unbelievable. “You would? I can’t afford not to sell papers, but I can meet up after work or even during lunch, if you prefer.” In case being out a night wasn’t a possibility for her. Winn noticed the expensive layout of her home, yet his eyes were drawn to Kara – the headlighting casted a light upon her beautiful features. He found himself glancing down at her mouth, wanting to kiss her, wondering if he should. Winn felt his throat run dry, leaving him to only nod after she spoke. When Kara began leaning towards him, Winn did the same, anticipating the touch of her lips. He was so close to eliminating the distance until he noticed the presence of another. “I think we have an audience. Your father’s watching from the window,” Winn practically whispered, a kiss so near in reach yet he was only permitted a brush against her lips before speaking.
Kara couldn’t believe that she was about to kiss him and while she swore to never move fast with anyone, there was a connection with the man who came to her rescue an hour prior she couldn’t deny. She felt as if she had known him for years and he seemed to understand her more than those in her social circle. She was about to pull back because perhaps she was moving too fast, but Winn was also leaning close and it made her change her mind. Was it possible that he shared the same feelings for her? Kara only smiled when she noticed he had moved closer while moving to wrap her arms around his neck. Their lips were inches from touching and yet his words brought her back to reality.
Your father’s watching from the window.
Kara was forced to pull back and face her father but while Winn informed her of who was watching, her father had made his way outside with his arms crossed. Why was he still up? He was either worried or annoyed for her late arrival and Kara knew worried wouldn’t be one of them. "Where were you? We were worried and about to call the police for a search party, but it seems you’ve been in the company of a thief.” A thief? She knew many people held to that opinion and many others about newsboys and it infuriated her, but Kara still held onto hope that Jeremiah would change his mindset one day. “You were worried?” Kara questioned, holding Winn’s hand again. “I’m sorry but you don’t look worried to me. Newsboys are not common criminals and saying such a thing is rather unkind.”
She turned to give Winn a sympathetic smile. She wanted so desperately to kiss Winn, but Kara didn’t want their first kiss to be rushed and with Jeremiah watching. “I’m so sorry about him. I’ll see you tomorrow, Winn. Thank you for everything.” Kara kissed his cheek both out of gratitude for his heroism earlier and out of love before walking towards the house. Jeremiah was no furious and Kara knew it was because she had stood up to him. He never liked it when she did and yet what reason did Kara have to stay silent? Kara had learned her lesson the hard way that if she stayed silent in this family about their behavior towards her any further, they would continue to walk over her until she got married or moved out. Jeremiah stopped her from going inside by grabbing onto her wrist hard.
“I told you never to talk back to me. You were supposed to be home an hour ago and there was no need for you to speak to me that way in front of someone like him.” Kara tried to pull her arm and away and yet Jeremiah’s grasp was too strong. “You’re hurting me, you know. I lost track of the time and I was at work. It happens. When I finally realized the time and left, someone stole my purse and that boy was kind enough to walk me home. By the way, you can call him Winn instead of being rude to him. Let me go, please. I’m tired and want to sleep.”