Page 86 of Die for You

I grab a glass of milk and an apple from the breakfast selection and walk to where she sits by herself. The moment she sees me approaching, she shrinks in on herself, wishing to disappear.

“Can I sit?” I ask with a gentle smile.

The girl won’t look at me, but she nods.

I put the glass of milk in front of her and casually cut the apple into quarters. “My name is Valentina. What’s your dolly’s name?”

The girl’s tiny fingers grip the doll tighter.

“Is her name…Sally?”

The girl shakes her head, her pigtails wobbling with the movement.

“Hmm, Gracie?”

Again, she shakes her head.

“I know,” I say, taking a bite of the apple. “Her name is Robert.”

The girl peers up at me and giggles. “Robert is a boy’s name.”

“It is?” I ask, faking shock. “Well, what’s your name, then?”

The girl looks at the apple, licking her lips in hunger.

“Would you like to share my apple with me?”

She nods.

I offer her a quarter.

She takes a small bite, which pleases me immensely to see her eating. “My name is Elena. And my dolly is just Dolly.”

“You know, I once had a cat called Cat.” I wonder if he’s still alive.

The girl’s eyes widen. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” I subtly push the plastic cup of milk toward her, hoping she’ll drink it.

“Everyone thinks I’m stupid for calling her Dolly. They say Dolly isn’t a name.”

“Dolly is a name. A very famous singer is called Dolly.” I begin to hum “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton. “So next time someone calls you stupid, you can correct them.”

She smiles happily, and with Dolly under one arm, she reaches for the cup of milk and drinks it.

Once she gulps it down in one mouthful, she wipes her lips with the back of her hand. “Will you read to me?”

“I would love that,” I reply with a smile.

Elena leads me to the library, her small hand in mine. We read her favorite fairy tales while she sits on my lap, listening intently.

The book is worn; the pages tattered and torn. The library hasn’t changed since I was here, which gives me an idea.

I kill bad men.

They have a lot of money.

Perhaps by giving to the disadvantaged, my conscience may lighten.