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.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAXwhdXWVluG
"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.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAST9zQSMF1z
"Lucy," his voice is broken. "Please tell me you didn't."1006Please respect copyright.PENANAf9B2KRG05J
"I-I didn't." I take a deep, shaky breath. "But I almost did." He turns his head and shuts his eyes.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAmC7xawn5tS
"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."1006Please respect copyright.PENANAQCaTiKRD7F
"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…1006Please respect copyright.PENANAcA573Dd74v
1006Please respect copyright.PENANAXJflAgsdrO
I open my eyes and stare at my wall, but it's not there.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAFVlTS25U2q
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.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAhQhHMvH0Lx
I feel nothing but pain and agony. A dark cloud is filling my head, making me seem heavy.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4DQsyD2yk
Fake.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAn9MkB41thy
Not myself.1006Please respect copyright.PENANACO9QTrolcp
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.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAXsnPAQImr7
Oh, Ray. Where are you?!1006Please respect copyright.PENANA8AA3Seo6Te
"I'm going somewhere with my parents and we won't be back until Friday. Call me if you need anything, OK?"1006Please respect copyright.PENANAbRKRHIEXlS
Help me, Ray! Help me!1006Please respect copyright.PENANAPYNJzynwbg
I punch in his number and put the phone to my ear.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAhPNXR9XO5W
Voice mail.1006Please respect copyright.PENANA0FpGr2n2aX
I try again.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAnYQkDwbJnd
No answer.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAqnVCgAetFL
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.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAHBnsrkxVeA
I can't. I must stay strong.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAzeoCPRFGMk
My tears come faster.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAVYZBOxy3Oh
Keep it together, Lucy. Keep it together.1006Please respect copyright.PENANA54ipDUb4Ij
"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.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAMBqLGICEHC
"Ray!" I cry out. Please…1006Please respect copyright.PENANAYUaQHrYDls
My hands fall to my sides, my hair a knotted mess. I stare silently at the ceiling.1006Please respect copyright.PENANA2oJzxRSSoa
Is it really that high?1006Please respect copyright.PENANApQP5jBcMOH
I curl up on my side, staring into the black nothingness under my bed.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3hbRQYaYb
I must move… I need to move.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAJREwlYSt6J
I eye the door.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAMKXMYMpXza
I will myself to sit up.1006Please respect copyright.PENANACKpyXnTznq
My room turns upside down and goes blurry, my vision faltering. I still and wait for the dizziness to pass.1006Please respect copyright.PENANACMq1GLFtcF
I blink once – twice- and then sit on my knees.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAl9233W5CXz
I focus on the door.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAD5cgEbifK6
I crawl forward.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAek4h0PLUeW
I need to get there.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAV7ZuVASenV
I slowly try to stand up. I advance, pushing one leg forward and then the other, and repeat.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAE4eYcJtrD1
My legs are wobbly, broken.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAI5nCl87H3S
Just a few more feet…1006Please respect copyright.PENANAYBOr9HpPtZ
I reach out my hand and take another step-1006Please respect copyright.PENANAVs8a8lFwG3
and collapse to the ground.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAdPOyDYsrLb
"No…" I try to stand again, but I can't get up.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAvs1d8OdOVZ
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.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAmgIeAyhCuT
I suck in a breath.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAsWOqlG71WU
A chill of excitement and fear shoots up my arm, down my spine and spreads through my body.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAYvzUHOOjCr
I bring the blade closer to me, another thrill flowing inside me.1006Please respect copyright.PENANA7kHxxPCtNv
Just once.1006Please respect copyright.PENANABHchkby0bQ
"Promise me."1006Please respect copyright.PENANA2xjc7Tq5pI
"I promise, Ray."1006Please respect copyright.PENANAMMBqDtAOdY
No, I can't. I promised him.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAs5UT63xIUj
But it'll feel so good…1006Please respect copyright.PENANABIichsMhaC
I study the blade, turning it around in my hands.1006Please respect copyright.PENANANsrfc5zRWn
It'll be quick. Just one cut.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAYKTnSbZQPE
It'll heal quickly, faster than normally.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAeH12MJ0Bzb
Now's your chance, Ray… I look at the door, waiting for him to walk through and stop me.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAueCVrG3XCe
Anytime, now…1006Please respect copyright.PENANASgaafsLJ77
My vision blurs. I feel drops on my skin.1006Please respect copyright.PENANA0gceVNnVHC
Is it raining?1006Please respect copyright.PENANACYnWPzguaz
No, that’s impossible.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAYPbXV40vDJ
I can't see.1006Please respect copyright.PENANA4lUznuuZXi
I try to take breath but I choke up, a heavy weight sitting on my chest. A rock is stuck in my throat.1006Please respect copyright.PENANA1oA1boVvVb
I can't breathe.1006Please respect copyright.PENANA3v0Zr0Ppn6
I thrash around, clawing at my throat. I make a gurgling sound, trying to swallow.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAE6A2w4k1V2
What's poking my leg…?1006Please respect copyright.PENANAKl1VNQBrvj
I look down, choking on air, and spot the blade.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAK4zCnFfHv9
How did it get there?1006Please respect copyright.PENANALRBssChDDh
I take it and hold it closely to myself.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAw47dZIJ258
How can something so evil look so beautiful?1006Please respect copyright.PENANANYRz91Ypkr
I bring it down to my wrist and shiver.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAkRmKVe2mst
So cold.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAZdcff88ARQ
I press down and drive it across my skin.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAZUZQiOEqgT
I let out a shaky breath that I didn't know I was holding. My blood drips warm and red down my arm.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAcOqCGoDkYc
I take another breath.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAbyeYXVV5bE
Another.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAMjbnja6q5f
My breathing comes harder, faster.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAx7AKzif8R3
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.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAGaCk2bhmpj
I lean back, resting my head against my bed.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAQy8Tmp5VlD
I shut my eyes tightly.1006Please respect copyright.PENANAhNvZws2G3D
I should not have done that.