Chapter 83: Spoke Too Soon
I should have known, deep down I should have known Reagan would pull something like this. He was never going to leave me to be on my own. It was obvious he didn’t trust me. He didn’t trust me with myself and with my freedom because he had already anticipated I was going to pull something like this and somehow that made me even angrier.
Reagan always carried himself with heavy responsibilities but that doesn’t mean he should restrain my choices, that was his problem not mine!
Sighing, I turned to look at the boy who watched me with a mixture of nervousness and uncertainty. Because of his young features, his scared expression combined with a sense of culpability as if he understood his mistake of exposing Reagan’s commands.
"Listen here Edward_"
"Eddie!" He was quick to correct me.
"Right, Eddie!" I said eyeing him, "I do not need you to protect me, contrary to what Reagan said, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. So no offense, why don’t you just run along now and maybe go to school?"
Eddie’s lips pursed as he stared up at me, "I can’t go to school my lady," he whispered looking down at his feet before he mumbled the next words, "I can’t afford it."
Suddenly I felt bad after hearing his quiet confession and I was a little embarrassed. This boy has done nothing wrong to be on the receiving end of my anger, it wasn’t his force.
My frustration with Reagan temporarily faded away as I stared at Eddie who’s young face was tinged with shame. The guilt of my own words weighed on me heavily which prompted me to apologize immediately.
"I’m sorry." I said still feeling embarrassed for lashing out on him. "I didn’t mean to be rude, that wasn’t very fair of me."
It was no secret that education in the kingdom was not easily accessible to everyone, especially those of lower status. Eddie’s words highlighted the class inequality to me although I had mostly avoided exposure to that reality thus far.