'I am brave. I am brave. I am brave.'
"PEPPERMINT!" Lior shouted as loud as he could in hopes his Maman would hear even from afar.
He kept telling himself he was brave, because that's what his Maman always told him.
That he was clever.
And that he was brave.
"PEPPERMINT! PEPPERMINT! PEPPERMINT!" Lior kept yelling, his voice shaking as he moved his arm again and again, trying to make more of his blood fall.
When the man grabbed him, Lior had seen the dagger. He knew it was sharp. He knew it could hurt him.
He was scared.
Really scared.
But his Maman said his blood was special.
Not like other people's.
So if he left it behind…
'Maman will see it.'
Because he was clever.
Because he was brave.
And because his Maman would come find him.
He had to make it easy.
Even if it hurts.
But the tears wouldn't stop.
They kept falling, and falling, and Lior couldn't stop them no matter how hard he tried.
His chest hurt.
