Beyond the Divorce

"I don't know who told her about it later, but she came here with some people, asking me what the master had said to me. I didn't know what she wanted to know, but I refused to admit that I had any private dealings with the master, even if she wanted to beat me to death. I insisted that I was just a gardener." Kenny wiped his eyes, then continued, "So she beat me half to death and ordered some people to ransack my place. But they found nothing, so it ended there."

"What a viper!" I cursed, then asked, "What happened afterwards?"

"Even though I was seriously injured, she refused to let me get any medical attention. I think she didn't care whether I lived or died. I was just an insignificant ant to her. She wanted me to perish!" Kenny gritted his teeth.

"I persisted, telling myself I couldn't die because I had to fulfill the task the master had entrusted to me. I had to keep the keys he had given me safe, so I would be worthy of the master." He looked at Atlas with a face full of joy. "You've suffered, Kenny," Atlas said sincerely. His eyes turned slightly red.

"So that was why you were injured?" I asked.

"My injuries took three months to heal. But they didn't heal properly, which gradually resulted in my current condition, and that's how I became a hunchback," he spoke softly and indifferently.

looked at Kenny with gratitude in his

to leave to find you, but I didn't know who to ask. The people here had all changed, and I didn't know who was good or bad. I couldn't

his hand and nodded

was worried that I wouldn't be able to discover you, since my health

wanted to see you. If you were alive, you would return one day. You would return no

here, and I

is my

years, I would sometimes hear about you, but folks in the courtyard started to leave one by one until, eventually, not a

know how scared I was, Sir. I was afraid wouldn't be able to fulfill the task the master entrusted to me. I was afraid I'd never see you again! Thank goodness! You're finally back!"

reached out and hugged Kenny's hunched body,

eyes, and I've finally completed the task the