I'll Love You Forever

It has been almost a month since I ran away. I’m doing much better now. My boss at the diner promoted me to a waiter, so that I can work longer hours with better pay. The apartment isn’t looking too bad either. I bought a ratty armchair that doesn’t feel too lumpy after you get used to it. Overall, I have made progress.


After work one day, near dinner time, I was walking through the city again when I passed by the giant television in the center of East City. Every major city has one mounted high up on a building so everyone can be notified when important events happen.


Well, I was walking past it, and I noticed a pretty large crowd gathered underneath. The TV usually plays commercials and advertisements since nothing too big has happened lately. My curiosity got the best of me and I glanced at the enormous screen. What I saw made my heart stop.


Really, I’m betting it actually skipped a beat. Trunks’ face, enlarged 100 times, flashed on the screen. He stood on a podium it seemed, and I could see Bulma and my family behind him. I hurried closer so I could hear.


“—5,000 zenni,” he was saying when I got close enough to hear. “Call Capsule Corporation or bring him here if you find him. Thank you,” he finished, walking off screen.


Then the screen displayed a still picture…of me. And that was the second time that day my heart stopped. I’ll probably have a heart attack soon.


The picture was recent and showed me laughing into the camera, grinning what was dubbed the Son grin. I could tell it was edited. Not because it looked it. No, the picture looked great. But I knew that instead of the black background they had put, there should be green fields with Grandpa Gohan’s small cabin in the back. The skies behind my head should have been blue and broken only with soft white clouds. And Trunks should have been next to me, his beautiful lavender hair lightly swaying in the gentle breeze, a content smile on his face.

“—I want that money,” I heard a woman behind me say.


“Yeah, all you have to do is find some kid named Goten Son,” a man replied.


“They said he probably wasn’t dead,” she continued. “He can’t hide forever. Someone’s bound to find him and get that 5,000 zenni.”


I stiffened and casually pulled my hood over my head, holding the front down to obscure my face. With my neck bent, I pushed out of the crowd, careful not to make eye contact with anyone.


So Trunks had sent out a message for me. Now everyone would be looking for my face. I knew I couldn’t return to my job, where the boss knew me well by now.


I found an empty street and leaned against a building wall. I felt heavy, weighed down with an incredible burden. Trunks’ face kept visualizing in my mind. It was serious, but I, who had known him since we were babies, could read his eyes. And the only emotion they held was pain.


I groaned as I thought about it. When Trunks woke in the morning from his drunken stupor, he must have thought he did something to scare me away. It was obvious to me he took the blame entirely on himself.


That made me feel crappy. I had thought my intentions were good, but look what happened. I not only distanced myself and crushed my own heart, I hurt Trunks more than I thought possible by this simple act.


I pushed off the wall and wandered down the street, no particular place in mind. I felt so bad by now, I just wanted to go back and tell Trunks it wasn’t his fault. Except a part of me wouldn’t let me do that. I felt torn.


I heard loud music from down the street and looked up to see the flashing lights of a bar sign. Just what I needed.


After making sure my face was hidden, I entered and plopped down at the bar. I ordered the strongest alcoholic beverage I could think of, hoping to drink away my problems. I know, immature, but would you have done differently?

Three hours later, I could barely see, my vision was so impaired. I paid my bill and stumbled out of the bar into the night. I zigzagged down the darkened street, hiccupping and singing softly. At least I didn’t feel sad anymore. Actually, I didn’t feel anything. Ah, the benefits of alcohol.


I was wandering past a dark alley when two guys jumped out of nowhere and pushed me into it. In my weakened ki state, not to mention alcohol impaired, I provided no resistance. My eyes adjusted to the darkness of the alley.


About five guys surrounded me, all looking pretty tough.
“Leave me alone,” I slurred, hoping they could understand me. “I don’t have any money.”


One of them, the leader I supposed, laughed. “Don’t worry hon, we don’t want your money. You have something else we want…”


He gestured to his lackeys and they began closing the circle. Suddenly, my arms and legs were grabbed and I was soon pinned to the ground, face digging into the gravel. I felt hands all over me as my clothes were ripped off. I kicked and bit, but it didn’t make a difference.


Hands held my arms down as other hands spread my now bare legs.

“Stop,” I moaned in pain, the hands bruising my skin.


The leader chuckled from above me. “Don’t worry, my pet, I’ll take good care of you.” The sound of a zipper reached my ears, and I passed out.


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