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"Hey! Is Lee Home?"

With my hands held behind my back and a knee keeping my on the ground, there isn't much I can do about the gun pointed to my head.

The man in front of me reads from a book in a language he made up, one hand holding the book, the other holding the gun steadily between my eyes.

I want to beg him to please don't kill me. Please don't pull the trigger. Please, just let me prove that I can still be useful.

But my voice won't work. I'm not sure if it's because of his conditioning, or out of anxiety, but I can't speak to save my life. Literally.

I can't believe I'm dying at 14.

The book slams closed. The prayers over.

He looks at me, nothing but hatred in his eyes.

"May your next life treat you better than this one did." 

He pulls back the hammer.

"I'll find you again once you've reincarnated."

His grip tightens.

My mother and sister look away.

I take a deep breath, squeezing my eyes shut.

The door opens.

"Hey! Is Lee home?"

It's my friend. He came by without knocking or informing anyone.

The gun is quickly holstered. 

He yanks me to my feet, growling in my face, "Tell me next time your friends are coming over."

He throws me to the ground.

I scramble up to greet my friend, making sure I don't look behind me. I don't want to see his disappointed face. I don't want to see his brother looking forlorn. I don't want to see if the gun is pointing at me again. 
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