Give Me a Reason Read Online Free PDF

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longer the case. The books scattered around were old and used, and although
popular in their day, Krista hadn’t read any of them in years. Toni refused to
have a television or radio in the apartment, and whenever Krista brought over a
magazine or a newspaper, it left when she did. The world held no interest for
Toni any longer, and she showed no curiosity over technology or the latest
novel to hit the stands. The classics were safe, providing a warm cocoon where
she could hide amongst the words she had read a hundred times before, allowing
her to forget, if only for a moment, the ugliness that lay beyond the door to
her flat.
    Knowing that their limited conversation had come to an end,
Kris reached out and touched Toni’s sleeve, the simple action causing the woman
to jerk away. Refusing to allow her sadness to show, Kris said softly, “I know
I say this every week, but if you ever need anything, if you ever just want to
talk…I’m here for you.”
    “I know you are,” Toni whispered.
    Looking into Toni’s dark brown eyes, Krista felt her emotions
begin to rise to the surface, remembering a time when those eyes, now dismal
and empty, once sparkled with life, love and mischief.
    “I love you, Toni,” Kris said as she walked to the door,
needing to leave before she broke down like she always did. “Please call me if
you need anything…anything at all.”
    A few moments later, Toni murmured, “See ya, Krista.”
    She hadn’t noticed that her friend had already left.
     
    ***
     
    With Duane out of town visiting his parents, Laura spent most
of the weekend going through paperwork and getting a grasp on the monthly
reports, so by the time she returned to work on Monday, she was raring to go.
Even though there seemed to be a mountain of forms and requirements to adhere
to, she quickly came up with a schedule that would allow her ample time every month
to monitor the teachers, submit her reports and bring a few of her own ideas to
Calloway House.
    On Wednesday morning, as Laura sat in her office drinking her
third cup of coffee, John appeared in the doorway. “Good morning.”
    “Hiya, John.”
    “Do you have a few minutes?”
    “Sure, what’s up?” Laura said, putting aside her paperwork.
    “I thought it was time that you meet Toni.”
    Instantly grinning, Laura popped out of her chair, and
quickly followed John out of the room and up the stairs.
    Pausing once they got to Toni’s classroom, John said, “Laura,
don’t expect too much, all right? I mean, I doubt that she’ll say more than a
few words, if that.”
    Laura was nervous, and she didn’t know why. The woman she was
about to meet technically worked for her, so taking a deep breath, she
straightened her suit jacket. “I understand, John. It’ll be fine.”
    “Good.”
    Hearing the hushed voices in the hallway, Toni recognized one
as John Canfield’s and immediately knew that she was about to meet the new head
of her department. Sighing, she took a few deep breaths to steady her nerves.
She hated this...this requirement of life that she couldn’t avoid. Meeting
people, strangers until they weren’t, but they were all strangers to her. She
didn’t trust them. She couldn’t trust them. They would hurt her. Maybe not with
a fist or a foot or a belt, but somehow, in some way, they would hurt her.
    Entering the room, Laura saw her sitting at the desk, and
while most people would have looked up to acknowledge their visitors, Toni
Vaughn did not. Several moments passed and Laura began to feel awkward, unsure
as to why John hadn’t said anything and the woman behind the desk hadn’t moved
an inch. Biting her lip, Laura began to take another step forward when John
reached out and touched her arm. Shaking his head, he whispered, “Wait.”
    Another minute passed before Laura heard the screech of the
wooden chair across the tile floor, and she watched as the apprehensive woman
stood and took a few hesitant steps toward them.
    Since their