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.633Please respect copyright.PENANAkocp2qVqFM
"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.633Please respect copyright.PENANAVuVb0MNUKL
"Lucy," his voice is broken. "Please tell me you didn't."633Please respect copyright.PENANAxYkEFpKQl9
"I-I didn't." I take a deep, shaky breath. "But I almost did." He turns his head and shuts his eyes.633Please respect copyright.PENANAcFjcqPuBUA
"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."633Please respect copyright.PENANAAuMGVyWAcv
"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…633Please respect copyright.PENANAaMqQj26Djz
633Please respect copyright.PENANASGhmg6wJVf
I open my eyes and stare at my wall, but it's not there.633Please respect copyright.PENANAr49jdFPeHX
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.633Please respect copyright.PENANAAExolw3MOP
I feel nothing but pain and agony. A dark cloud is filling my head, making me seem heavy.633Please respect copyright.PENANAWpPcFyLLUM
Fake.633Please respect copyright.PENANAHb3BaJRbbT
Not myself.633Please respect copyright.PENANAbAbcfb6QuX
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.633Please respect copyright.PENANAQvIrnEecVS
Oh, Ray. Where are you?!633Please respect copyright.PENANA9WjPTjcdwX
"I'm going somewhere with my parents and we won't be back until Friday. Call me if you need anything, OK?"633Please respect copyright.PENANAB5Yg1irQY0
Help me, Ray! Help me!633Please respect copyright.PENANACtzU0fTWM0
I punch in his number and put the phone to my ear.633Please respect copyright.PENANAqOOQULLbQB
Voice mail.633Please respect copyright.PENANADcg9KQUhDS
I try again.633Please respect copyright.PENANAnkc9aCyrBp
No answer.633Please respect copyright.PENANA8474227Tds
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.633Please respect copyright.PENANAtCNCsrkcK4
I can't. I must stay strong.633Please respect copyright.PENANAMDst4dEFjy
My tears come faster.633Please respect copyright.PENANApl1ZPaGpQi
Keep it together, Lucy. Keep it together.633Please respect copyright.PENANAyYde80C3KI
"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.633Please respect copyright.PENANAN6hAWmzmw5
"Ray!" I cry out. Please…633Please respect copyright.PENANAG7ToJAUPCi
My hands fall to my sides, my hair a knotted mess. I stare silently at the ceiling.633Please respect copyright.PENANAYK7woXQGTn
Is it really that high?633Please respect copyright.PENANADjjIK8LT3g
I curl up on my side, staring into the black nothingness under my bed.633Please respect copyright.PENANAo26Eh4PZoS
I must move… I need to move.633Please respect copyright.PENANAWwtBFRIMNp
I eye the door.633Please respect copyright.PENANASyaGFQmXwT
I will myself to sit up.633Please respect copyright.PENANApoG5syEs0v
My room turns upside down and goes blurry, my vision faltering. I still and wait for the dizziness to pass.633Please respect copyright.PENANAvbNCgUs9sA
I blink once – twice- and then sit on my knees.633Please respect copyright.PENANAcfCivuk9xI
I focus on the door.633Please respect copyright.PENANA76IJYE6Iyk
I crawl forward.633Please respect copyright.PENANAy0jcCLWLh1
I need to get there.633Please respect copyright.PENANAgowK9oDoAo
I slowly try to stand up. I advance, pushing one leg forward and then the other, and repeat.633Please respect copyright.PENANACLKPlTpymC
My legs are wobbly, broken.633Please respect copyright.PENANAvs3DYSveLz
Just a few more feet…633Please respect copyright.PENANA077L4p3nAW
I reach out my hand and take another step-633Please respect copyright.PENANAFMidxpnQqk
and collapse to the ground.633Please respect copyright.PENANA2ROmjU2Vsv
"No…" I try to stand again, but I can't get up.633Please respect copyright.PENANAYKSPuzQTxL
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.633Please respect copyright.PENANA5O1dZgu6RC
I suck in a breath.633Please respect copyright.PENANAmzInJYWOjM
A chill of excitement and fear shoots up my arm, down my spine and spreads through my body.633Please respect copyright.PENANAB6Pn63glNh
I bring the blade closer to me, another thrill flowing inside me.633Please respect copyright.PENANAqdWKuK95nd
Just once.633Please respect copyright.PENANA0IVuuC5gg7
"Promise me."633Please respect copyright.PENANAUD2Fvu2qFz
"I promise, Ray."633Please respect copyright.PENANAQSWd0cuH0G
No, I can't. I promised him.633Please respect copyright.PENANAZNnIk5CBNQ
But it'll feel so good…633Please respect copyright.PENANAfFsWNIW6PN
I study the blade, turning it around in my hands.633Please respect copyright.PENANAFA3lqFfmVM
It'll be quick. Just one cut.633Please respect copyright.PENANA8vKUx5AT0w
It'll heal quickly, faster than normally.633Please respect copyright.PENANAigIZs9qm63
Now's your chance, Ray… I look at the door, waiting for him to walk through and stop me.633Please respect copyright.PENANA8KsFigJtxl
Anytime, now…633Please respect copyright.PENANA3I81K3jtVx
My vision blurs. I feel drops on my skin.633Please respect copyright.PENANAZocodJZMf9
Is it raining?633Please respect copyright.PENANA6FJR911sg9
No, that’s impossible.633Please respect copyright.PENANAU8keVSENhJ
I can't see.633Please respect copyright.PENANAe9EaFskjDK
I try to take breath but I choke up, a heavy weight sitting on my chest. A rock is stuck in my throat.633Please respect copyright.PENANAO7V2qUxO9b
I can't breathe.633Please respect copyright.PENANArBdhqtV9CH
I thrash around, clawing at my throat. I make a gurgling sound, trying to swallow.633Please respect copyright.PENANAin97I3KAvX
What's poking my leg…?633Please respect copyright.PENANAqcnFkSHqXX
I look down, choking on air, and spot the blade.633Please respect copyright.PENANArd7rZYtSQv
How did it get there?633Please respect copyright.PENANAizAET6XDtZ
I take it and hold it closely to myself.633Please respect copyright.PENANAEpmTadId1F
How can something so evil look so beautiful?633Please respect copyright.PENANAwL3G3XmVG6
I bring it down to my wrist and shiver.633Please respect copyright.PENANAb7mdmjEkub
So cold.633Please respect copyright.PENANA0AHZqe7P2E
I press down and drive it across my skin.633Please respect copyright.PENANARt3iG3972n
I let out a shaky breath that I didn't know I was holding. My blood drips warm and red down my arm.633Please respect copyright.PENANAr1I6Xboknz
I take another breath.633Please respect copyright.PENANA7xtyVQMu9E
Another.633Please respect copyright.PENANALeSSpswuiQ
My breathing comes harder, faster.633Please respect copyright.PENANAqrLUEP2hql
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.633Please respect copyright.PENANAfsMOnF0dgR
I lean back, resting my head against my bed.633Please respect copyright.PENANAwUSELbMVsN
I shut my eyes tightly.633Please respect copyright.PENANAKtormjwoXT
I should not have done that.