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.891Please respect copyright.PENANAc0626KFdfX
"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.891Please respect copyright.PENANA9WWMGUEQ4z
"Lucy," his voice is broken. "Please tell me you didn't."891Please respect copyright.PENANA7OW6QxYiz9
"I-I didn't." I take a deep, shaky breath. "But I almost did." He turns his head and shuts his eyes.891Please respect copyright.PENANA1GMp6MDuEK
"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."891Please respect copyright.PENANAofYfKumsTV
"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…891Please respect copyright.PENANAm0v6ixpGGe
891Please respect copyright.PENANAdMU1bLDhhe
I open my eyes and stare at my wall, but it's not there.891Please respect copyright.PENANATUbHHn7pS0
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.891Please respect copyright.PENANA6fB8wJCRAt
I feel nothing but pain and agony. A dark cloud is filling my head, making me seem heavy.891Please respect copyright.PENANA82jQXmePgQ
Fake.891Please respect copyright.PENANANxS1DH6dtm
Not myself.891Please respect copyright.PENANA0Vm9Fgo3kE
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.891Please respect copyright.PENANAlBSnJzx3bI
Oh, Ray. Where are you?!891Please respect copyright.PENANAT2VJ0s3jRy
"I'm going somewhere with my parents and we won't be back until Friday. Call me if you need anything, OK?"891Please respect copyright.PENANADybEi26zku
Help me, Ray! Help me!891Please respect copyright.PENANAggy0im7UNs
I punch in his number and put the phone to my ear.891Please respect copyright.PENANABUFLtdkiYx
Voice mail.891Please respect copyright.PENANAm8vtd63kUE
I try again.891Please respect copyright.PENANAcAy1helZAt
No answer.891Please respect copyright.PENANA5p6UElUALh
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.891Please respect copyright.PENANAjcgE7HbMln
I can't. I must stay strong.891Please respect copyright.PENANAToXH2lKUGh
My tears come faster.891Please respect copyright.PENANAPs4DtD5suW
Keep it together, Lucy. Keep it together.891Please respect copyright.PENANABGwLwcIMoK
"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.891Please respect copyright.PENANA3CzrXJI9Se
"Ray!" I cry out. Please…891Please respect copyright.PENANAqMdBKhFlR9
My hands fall to my sides, my hair a knotted mess. I stare silently at the ceiling.891Please respect copyright.PENANA0bSNVvDZXl
Is it really that high?891Please respect copyright.PENANAgvhOdBhBHo
I curl up on my side, staring into the black nothingness under my bed.891Please respect copyright.PENANAGOSndm0FXn
I must move… I need to move.891Please respect copyright.PENANAYjRLOU4M3y
I eye the door.891Please respect copyright.PENANAU8TNI2hVEP
I will myself to sit up.891Please respect copyright.PENANAjIn85mB66u
My room turns upside down and goes blurry, my vision faltering. I still and wait for the dizziness to pass.891Please respect copyright.PENANAtIRAzx7qMp
I blink once – twice- and then sit on my knees.891Please respect copyright.PENANAYy42RdaiKo
I focus on the door.891Please respect copyright.PENANAIUC575Zj9d
I crawl forward.891Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZsgLxhYrP
I need to get there.891Please respect copyright.PENANA8l7d3mKqVk
I slowly try to stand up. I advance, pushing one leg forward and then the other, and repeat.891Please respect copyright.PENANARXlx0ihX6H
My legs are wobbly, broken.891Please respect copyright.PENANAeA5G0KOGEc
Just a few more feet…891Please respect copyright.PENANAgvwObD9EJF
I reach out my hand and take another step-891Please respect copyright.PENANAdcsZYCAAOG
and collapse to the ground.891Please respect copyright.PENANApX30m0X3Jd
"No…" I try to stand again, but I can't get up.891Please respect copyright.PENANAobg7wBGI2B
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.891Please respect copyright.PENANAY79DB0EgVv
I suck in a breath.891Please respect copyright.PENANAO7LfoHjI3P
A chill of excitement and fear shoots up my arm, down my spine and spreads through my body.891Please respect copyright.PENANANpftXOMNgA
I bring the blade closer to me, another thrill flowing inside me.891Please respect copyright.PENANAtAsNwJGPZS
Just once.891Please respect copyright.PENANAgizNk6t3UF
"Promise me."891Please respect copyright.PENANASo1ttTSGX6
"I promise, Ray."891Please respect copyright.PENANAukXnIRhAj6
No, I can't. I promised him.891Please respect copyright.PENANA6uvmFQoGhO
But it'll feel so good…891Please respect copyright.PENANARBVqrdZSvf
I study the blade, turning it around in my hands.891Please respect copyright.PENANAZZtmkzKirQ
It'll be quick. Just one cut.891Please respect copyright.PENANAX9NWAcOjlB
It'll heal quickly, faster than normally.891Please respect copyright.PENANA4iPHE7wTXl
Now's your chance, Ray… I look at the door, waiting for him to walk through and stop me.891Please respect copyright.PENANAW8uoFPbnpn
Anytime, now…891Please respect copyright.PENANAduYVf2edZi
My vision blurs. I feel drops on my skin.891Please respect copyright.PENANAlX34EzoC7Y
Is it raining?891Please respect copyright.PENANAqS6RdL2nKA
No, that’s impossible.891Please respect copyright.PENANA8UpPPWSwdT
I can't see.891Please respect copyright.PENANA2Lc8WtMaWM
I try to take breath but I choke up, a heavy weight sitting on my chest. A rock is stuck in my throat.891Please respect copyright.PENANA22OpZxXL4P
I can't breathe.891Please respect copyright.PENANAls01TDuL7W
I thrash around, clawing at my throat. I make a gurgling sound, trying to swallow.891Please respect copyright.PENANAhl9HTVJec5
What's poking my leg…?891Please respect copyright.PENANAU7ABIMFC9n
I look down, choking on air, and spot the blade.891Please respect copyright.PENANAfBvRRYCSkK
How did it get there?891Please respect copyright.PENANAGDkXeboC9U
I take it and hold it closely to myself.891Please respect copyright.PENANA8jmftmuElg
How can something so evil look so beautiful?891Please respect copyright.PENANAf0FmQ9Gxf0
I bring it down to my wrist and shiver.891Please respect copyright.PENANAmDmKH7YTxg
So cold.891Please respect copyright.PENANAGrL1IJw22R
I press down and drive it across my skin.891Please respect copyright.PENANANtEMPTIU0w
I let out a shaky breath that I didn't know I was holding. My blood drips warm and red down my arm.891Please respect copyright.PENANA1zJMfRbMYX
I take another breath.891Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZQwAZrUMG
Another.891Please respect copyright.PENANA8QxLpol72V
My breathing comes harder, faster.891Please respect copyright.PENANA2L0o2nhfI8
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.891Please respect copyright.PENANAxWNDR6aeg7
I lean back, resting my head against my bed.891Please respect copyright.PENANAZGVWTjTrMo
I shut my eyes tightly.891Please respect copyright.PENANAXfL1iJAqxv
I should not have done that.