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.1005Please respect copyright.PENANA8932x2XB2w
"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.1005Please respect copyright.PENANABPUcBOOZka
"Lucy," his voice is broken. "Please tell me you didn't."1005Please respect copyright.PENANAxmMHEUxKun
"I-I didn't." I take a deep, shaky breath. "But I almost did." He turns his head and shuts his eyes.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAxyMONj2Rlr
"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."1005Please respect copyright.PENANAN48y4tRpiz
"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…1005Please respect copyright.PENANAL5qNOWZqZi
1005Please respect copyright.PENANAUzEgMlH00b
I open my eyes and stare at my wall, but it's not there.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAxSuotF3v6v
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.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAv451TUatW6
I feel nothing but pain and agony. A dark cloud is filling my head, making me seem heavy.1005Please respect copyright.PENANATQc6cq6xbq
Fake.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAywGKjNHBjs
Not myself.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAYLMN0EyZKx
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.1005Please respect copyright.PENANA6wZbNTWoJv
Oh, Ray. Where are you?!1005Please respect copyright.PENANAF9ZJse0OwB
"I'm going somewhere with my parents and we won't be back until Friday. Call me if you need anything, OK?"1005Please respect copyright.PENANAehGQ8RTM6c
Help me, Ray! Help me!1005Please respect copyright.PENANARTdX2S8MAI
I punch in his number and put the phone to my ear.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAXVs5QY2y7M
Voice mail.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAvXHHXxx1Hm
I try again.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAMf2ZdKfojd
No answer.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAEVMRJCj8oz
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.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAkPT1TH3Sjn
I can't. I must stay strong.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAXRqxMmacaF
My tears come faster.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAWgGcMaSr3O
Keep it together, Lucy. Keep it together.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAObNIqMDzBV
"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.1005Please respect copyright.PENANASPKJPNQICb
"Ray!" I cry out. Please…1005Please respect copyright.PENANA6Wm7oYtZHd
My hands fall to my sides, my hair a knotted mess. I stare silently at the ceiling.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAnobcsEdZdr
Is it really that high?1005Please respect copyright.PENANAh3qCeW2J6u
I curl up on my side, staring into the black nothingness under my bed.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAO4o0mQSS20
I must move… I need to move.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAIJS6XUXX3N
I eye the door.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAmIrCWASqrO
I will myself to sit up.1005Please respect copyright.PENANA2wKDofT0cR
My room turns upside down and goes blurry, my vision faltering. I still and wait for the dizziness to pass.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAa9VUy5I5gZ
I blink once – twice- and then sit on my knees.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAu5FHIrM2Ln
I focus on the door.1005Please respect copyright.PENANA7JOYTPWqyP
I crawl forward.1005Please respect copyright.PENANABu4U1wLcjj
I need to get there.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAfF1WB3LNV9
I slowly try to stand up. I advance, pushing one leg forward and then the other, and repeat.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAGL6iXmtI4J
My legs are wobbly, broken.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAQy2Vh1Maiw
Just a few more feet…1005Please respect copyright.PENANAvapSjYxq9u
I reach out my hand and take another step-1005Please respect copyright.PENANAODcGD5ykqZ
and collapse to the ground.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAcjKBY4tgtY
"No…" I try to stand again, but I can't get up.1005Please respect copyright.PENANA51IjyX9Mer
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.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAsiJd1NtFGQ
I suck in a breath.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAV2w30o34mR
A chill of excitement and fear shoots up my arm, down my spine and spreads through my body.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAUQhhH20155
I bring the blade closer to me, another thrill flowing inside me.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAVAnkgEhwAa
Just once.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAVU0z9QUJPI
"Promise me."1005Please respect copyright.PENANAvwDrEdBMoX
"I promise, Ray."1005Please respect copyright.PENANAoJbH9mZqVv
No, I can't. I promised him.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAW6oIXrwx8X
But it'll feel so good…1005Please respect copyright.PENANAPNo69GjPNV
I study the blade, turning it around in my hands.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAebQFTE5dEz
It'll be quick. Just one cut.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAbu1CWhhcBj
It'll heal quickly, faster than normally.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAvtMHIg8BFE
Now's your chance, Ray… I look at the door, waiting for him to walk through and stop me.1005Please respect copyright.PENANALJVgpq23EA
Anytime, now…1005Please respect copyright.PENANAek9eIZNB92
My vision blurs. I feel drops on my skin.1005Please respect copyright.PENANABxGah6ErkM
Is it raining?1005Please respect copyright.PENANAevQFCZR6qi
No, that’s impossible.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAoFxaeoBZyE
I can't see.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAfWQuS9Bpjx
I try to take breath but I choke up, a heavy weight sitting on my chest. A rock is stuck in my throat.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAh3zRCsEz0s
I can't breathe.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAd2kab4oj3z
I thrash around, clawing at my throat. I make a gurgling sound, trying to swallow.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAHXOmpPcTnv
What's poking my leg…?1005Please respect copyright.PENANAvdam5efrpA
I look down, choking on air, and spot the blade.1005Please respect copyright.PENANA6hp5Gk4che
How did it get there?1005Please respect copyright.PENANAGVa10iLZdi
I take it and hold it closely to myself.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAWwyRrA8liF
How can something so evil look so beautiful?1005Please respect copyright.PENANAyLCKshnk0C
I bring it down to my wrist and shiver.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAyTWGKBopEy
So cold.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAx5jh1F2S6j
I press down and drive it across my skin.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAlHUNWZJzvB
I let out a shaky breath that I didn't know I was holding. My blood drips warm and red down my arm.1005Please respect copyright.PENANA8GaPOMDuPL
I take another breath.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAFZvh5HxEo9
Another.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAvB7A0O5gEW
My breathing comes harder, faster.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAiQVQkP9lnP
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.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAgSuTY9jAcV
I lean back, resting my head against my bed.1005Please respect copyright.PENANA2HfRetq2OT
I shut my eyes tightly.1005Please respect copyright.PENANAKyF7fiewba
I should not have done that.