Lucy?" I raise my head in alarm. "Lucy!" I turn to the familiar voice. "There you are!" I feel warm arms engulf me, pulling me, soothing me.869Please respect copyright.PENANAHrmOxRbcpP
"Ray…" I choke out. Ray releases me and looks at my tear-stained face. He takes my hand and slips the blade from between my fingers, his eyes never leaving mine.869Please respect copyright.PENANAgxVDSU7MB8
"Lucy," his voice is broken. "Please tell me you didn't."869Please respect copyright.PENANA69FK8oT2us
"I-I didn't." I take a deep, shaky breath. "But I almost did." He turns his head and shuts his eyes.869Please respect copyright.PENANAAXKceeyFIJ
"Promise me something, Lucy." He looks back at me. "Promise me that you'll never cut again, OK?" I nod. "If you ever fall back to this place again, call me over. I'll help you, Lucy." He grabs my hands. "Promise me."869Please respect copyright.PENANA7vrGVScdzZ
"I promise, Ray." I whisper, tears leaking out of my eyes. He pulls me into a tight hug, breathing out a sigh of relief. He kisses the top of my head and then moves back…869Please respect copyright.PENANANwqZJ7mFc1
869Please respect copyright.PENANATc7zhdnbIB
I open my eyes and stare at my wall, but it's not there.869Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ve64ybpdt
My blanket is hanging off my bed, my clothes are strewn across the floor, my hair is sticking to my wet cheeks and the window is shut, enclosing me in darkness.869Please respect copyright.PENANAkWPnWyhAcg
I feel nothing but pain and agony. A dark cloud is filling my head, making me seem heavy.869Please respect copyright.PENANA3rs65AoHqC
Fake.869Please respect copyright.PENANAgEJJ7EUGET
Not myself.869Please respect copyright.PENANAcliUnMbX4C
The silver blade is shining, piercing the darkness with an evil light. It taunts me, challenges me, dares me to touch it, to pick it up and to use it.869Please respect copyright.PENANAvXe7NsFCVD
Oh, Ray. Where are you?!869Please respect copyright.PENANAbiLXAKb2PW
"I'm going somewhere with my parents and we won't be back until Friday. Call me if you need anything, OK?"869Please respect copyright.PENANAMwjUWLGv6m
Help me, Ray! Help me!869Please respect copyright.PENANA0hMA9LFYlY
I punch in his number and put the phone to my ear.869Please respect copyright.PENANAArpD6KcxVA
Voice mail.869Please respect copyright.PENANAjAms22ks0c
I try again.869Please respect copyright.PENANACSuvMna95z
No answer.869Please respect copyright.PENANA87RQh1oYHj
I frantically pull at my hair, curling into a ball. I shut my eyes but a few lone tears escape. I shake my head, trying to pull myself out of my despair and trying, somehow, to pull myself together. I'm falling apart, breaking down.869Please respect copyright.PENANAFduUcjfOV8
I can't. I must stay strong.869Please respect copyright.PENANAtCCR4f0ies
My tears come faster.869Please respect copyright.PENANAtm8FMgx8s8
Keep it together, Lucy. Keep it together.869Please respect copyright.PENANApadnv5A1yt
"Ahh!" I scream, pushing myself back. I lose my balance and fall off my bed, crashing to the floor. I cover my face with my hands, shaking, sobbing.869Please respect copyright.PENANAzclaE7ss2Z
"Ray!" I cry out. Please…869Please respect copyright.PENANAlXdffhiCb4
My hands fall to my sides, my hair a knotted mess. I stare silently at the ceiling.869Please respect copyright.PENANA2UKNfJNcb8
Is it really that high?869Please respect copyright.PENANA9cTy8hch8p
I curl up on my side, staring into the black nothingness under my bed.869Please respect copyright.PENANAhKw8rg068A
I must move… I need to move.869Please respect copyright.PENANA1u3re39NOY
I eye the door.869Please respect copyright.PENANAofNMbgsFI4
I will myself to sit up.869Please respect copyright.PENANAva7yDPc51X
My room turns upside down and goes blurry, my vision faltering. I still and wait for the dizziness to pass.869Please respect copyright.PENANAYbqTPNLEMd
I blink once – twice- and then sit on my knees.869Please respect copyright.PENANAj1zujK523Z
I focus on the door.869Please respect copyright.PENANAUTAUe1YQod
I crawl forward.869Please respect copyright.PENANAtO7Zej5G3H
I need to get there.869Please respect copyright.PENANAXw8Pe9QURl
I slowly try to stand up. I advance, pushing one leg forward and then the other, and repeat.869Please respect copyright.PENANAyKb2Kj6FTa
My legs are wobbly, broken.869Please respect copyright.PENANAoufLrpuwhs
Just a few more feet…869Please respect copyright.PENANAgamAzw9gQi
I reach out my hand and take another step-869Please respect copyright.PENANA1n8qMzCZr8
and collapse to the ground.869Please respect copyright.PENANAVc62fMCp3b
"No…" I try to stand again, but I can't get up.869Please respect copyright.PENANAmtlXzFVA0v
I grab at my bed sheet, trying to pull myself up. I feel around, grabbing at anything I possibly can. I grasp closer to my blanket and freeze as I touch something cold. Sharp.869Please respect copyright.PENANAfgIeOQsNp8
I suck in a breath.869Please respect copyright.PENANAMlRap2FnJ3
A chill of excitement and fear shoots up my arm, down my spine and spreads through my body.869Please respect copyright.PENANAXPZcsrRGI0
I bring the blade closer to me, another thrill flowing inside me.869Please respect copyright.PENANA5kAUjvsFhO
Just once.869Please respect copyright.PENANAGDbNNIkJ4h
"Promise me."869Please respect copyright.PENANA64E26blba2
"I promise, Ray."869Please respect copyright.PENANAFl1kN9P9Ox
No, I can't. I promised him.869Please respect copyright.PENANAGi0cKiqhB7
But it'll feel so good…869Please respect copyright.PENANAjXHhHo2Bg9
I study the blade, turning it around in my hands.869Please respect copyright.PENANAkB2rgbQdgP
It'll be quick. Just one cut.869Please respect copyright.PENANAspIgAaqGKd
It'll heal quickly, faster than normally.869Please respect copyright.PENANAOeOWW1OBmp
Now's your chance, Ray… I look at the door, waiting for him to walk through and stop me.869Please respect copyright.PENANAVvm0YXsPDU
Anytime, now…869Please respect copyright.PENANAGaluW9E0DZ
My vision blurs. I feel drops on my skin.869Please respect copyright.PENANAyRKmhDQlsN
Is it raining?869Please respect copyright.PENANAfzNxoaAtct
No, that’s impossible.869Please respect copyright.PENANAuGO2l44gCD
I can't see.869Please respect copyright.PENANArkzFJmaAmH
I try to take breath but I choke up, a heavy weight sitting on my chest. A rock is stuck in my throat.869Please respect copyright.PENANAix0M509qIx
I can't breathe.869Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7CZ6Q1V2e
I thrash around, clawing at my throat. I make a gurgling sound, trying to swallow.869Please respect copyright.PENANAEvDe2Gd6rW
What's poking my leg…?869Please respect copyright.PENANAGw4Saoqv5t
I look down, choking on air, and spot the blade.869Please respect copyright.PENANA13UZ1YB3dA
How did it get there?869Please respect copyright.PENANAs4K6Ns1U8X
I take it and hold it closely to myself.869Please respect copyright.PENANAm1m9kPvekx
How can something so evil look so beautiful?869Please respect copyright.PENANA4URFTQ365r
I bring it down to my wrist and shiver.869Please respect copyright.PENANAcpN0u36plq
So cold.869Please respect copyright.PENANAI2eaLzeuPb
I press down and drive it across my skin.869Please respect copyright.PENANAkeAZngZVNf
I let out a shaky breath that I didn't know I was holding. My blood drips warm and red down my arm.869Please respect copyright.PENANAnAs89W5TLW
I take another breath.869Please respect copyright.PENANAq4v0rWuEZL
Another.869Please respect copyright.PENANAtdDWPgllWh
My breathing comes harder, faster.869Please respect copyright.PENANA9LA0knVr7n
I slide the blade and cut again, slicing more of my skin. I gasp, my arm stinging. A groan escapes my lips as the pain takes its place, the sick pleasure mixing in.869Please respect copyright.PENANALwcw4jELb7
I lean back, resting my head against my bed.869Please respect copyright.PENANAJp7gFmHdnh
I shut my eyes tightly.869Please respect copyright.PENANAjufc3HUG9D
I should not have done that.