Shattered Lives Read Online Free Page A

had grabbed a knife and stabbed it deeply into his neck and bled to death before he could be arrested.
                  Brett and the rest of the boys who had ranged in age from twelve to fourteen had been abducted off the streets in their hometowns and had been forced into a life they had never dreamed existed, nor wanted.  The boys had been forced to do anything and everything a sick, perverted mind could imagine. 
    He shut his eyes to push those thoughts away, but they were there and weren’t going anywhere for a long, long time, and Brett was smart enough to know they might not ever go away.
                  He opened his eyes and found the clock on the wall that read 5:12; almost morning. The light from the window was brightening, though there were clouds in the sky and not much sun.  Moving quietly, silently, Brett swung his bare feet over the side of the bed because he had to get going.  This was a big day, an important day.     
                  Using his good arm, Brett yanked one of the blankets off his bed and placed it over Skip carefully and gently so as not to wake him. He stood at the doorway looking out into the hallway and across from his room at the nurses’ station.
                  His chestnut eyes saw everything and missed nothing.  Carol, the night nurse, sat at her desk, her back to him, pecking away on a computer keyboard.  Her shift had officially ended at five, but Brett knew his mother, also a nurse, had often worked longer to catch up on the pile of paperwork that had accrued during her shift.  To his right and down the hall towards Tim’s and Mike’s room, Rodney, one of the day orderlies, leaned against a wall and flirted with Dee. 
                  “Brett McGovern . . . what are you doing up so early ,” came a harsh, but playful whisper from his left.
                  Monique, a big woman and Brett’s favorite nurse, stood in the hallway with her hands on her considerable hips, feigning anger.
                  “Shhh . . . Skip’s still asleep,” Brett whispered.
    He pulled his door to a crack and smiled at her.
                  “Hmm, hmm, hmm . . . that boy could come to my house and sleep in my bed any time, but instead, he sleeps in a chair in your room.  I must be slippin’ or somethin’.”
                  “Monique, you know I have dibs on him,” Carol said getting up from her computer.  “Brett, honey, give me my morning hug.”
                  She scooped Brett up in her arms, careful not to press against his shoulder, and kissed the top of his head.
                  “How’s our angel this morning?”
                  Blushing, Brett shrugged his good shoulder and said, “Ok.”
                  “Brett, you know why Carol puts in extra time?  Just so she can steal Skip from me,” Monique said.  And to Carol, she said wagging a finger, “An’ don’t you think I don’t know that.” Turning back to Brett she said, “Give Big Monique a hug, Angel.”
                  Brett was immediately enveloped by the big lady, but gently and tenderly.  She kissed the top of his head as Carol had done, took his handsome, young face in both of her hands and looked him squarely in the eye.
                  “How did you sleep and don’t you dare give me no BS.  I want an honest answer.”
                  Brett made a face and shrugged his good shoulder.
                  “That’s what I thought.  Honey,” Monique said shaking her head at him, “Carol and Dr. Blaine said you aren’t taking any pain meds.  Why?”
                  “I don’t need to.  I’m okay.”
                  She waved her arm from left to right and said, “My BS meter works just fine, Angel.”
                  “I’m okay,” Brett repeated