I had been locked away inside my own vault of safety. Sure Erin and I had become great friends but he doesn't know what has been keeping me going. I barely admitted it to myself, but I was so angry on the inside. The bombing of my school sent a message to my brain. It transformed my very idea of right and wrong. It made me want to fight. It seemed like a premonition of the future. As if telling me my enemies knew I had seen what they had done and were going to stop at nothing to silence me. ★****** We reached the dojo just as they opened their doors for afternoon classes. Reaching the front desk, the lady manning the registration counter looked at me. ###### "Hello. Is there something I can help you with?" ###### " Yeah, ummm.... I need to sign up for a self defense class." ####### "Alright sweetheart. How about a martial arts class?" I nodded my head yes. I was having second doubts but I didn't want to give up so quickly. "Here is a sign up sheet. Membership is $250 a month." My heart dropped. I barely had enough Mont to pay for the class. But before I could hand the sign up back, Erin took the forms and walked to the corner with them.I followed close behind wishing knowing I had to tell him I couldn't sign up. ###### "Erin, I cant pay for the class." He didn't answer. Only held up the forms with a nod. ****** Thirty minutes later after signing the forms saying "if your arm should be broken in the event you are fighting with a teacher, along with any other part of your body including internal bleeding and popped out eyes, the dojo will not be held accountable. " Signed and dated, just seeing the printed words on paper brought fear to me. Erin grabbed the forms from me and gave them to the receptionist. I started searching my wallet for my check book but when I looked back, the lady was handing Erin a receipt. ##### "Your class starts at four. I suggest being on time. " ##### Walking out I looked back at Erin. He took one look at me and held a finger to his lips. *******THE NEXT DAY. I showed up for class with thirty minutes to spare. Looking back on that day now, I wonder how I ever survived.