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.964Please respect copyright.PENANAmkycfb6a73
"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.964Please respect copyright.PENANAzsDVKGl6RE
"Lucy," his voice is broken. "Please tell me you didn't."964Please respect copyright.PENANA0cRHFwWzPX
"I-I didn't." I take a deep, shaky breath. "But I almost did." He turns his head and shuts his eyes.964Please respect copyright.PENANA0jMwAgeOKh
"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."964Please respect copyright.PENANA94XvJ1l07y
"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…964Please respect copyright.PENANAo6k8cSrEX4
964Please respect copyright.PENANA4leSO72mCs
I open my eyes and stare at my wall, but it's not there.964Please respect copyright.PENANApht5KaVO74
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.964Please respect copyright.PENANAaRB2iMQzaR
I feel nothing but pain and agony. A dark cloud is filling my head, making me seem heavy.964Please respect copyright.PENANAPgBKP5zY5F
Fake.964Please respect copyright.PENANAwaNp0W5rNl
Not myself.964Please respect copyright.PENANA7YLnPaJ0ia
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.964Please respect copyright.PENANA6ntDqCq4bk
Oh, Ray. Where are you?!964Please respect copyright.PENANAXqM4yw2P1G
"I'm going somewhere with my parents and we won't be back until Friday. Call me if you need anything, OK?"964Please respect copyright.PENANA1lVIOX6dHi
Help me, Ray! Help me!964Please respect copyright.PENANAXDpeFWNcIw
I punch in his number and put the phone to my ear.964Please respect copyright.PENANARLoLIZQVzw
Voice mail.964Please respect copyright.PENANACOTBJLpX9O
I try again.964Please respect copyright.PENANAhdNdK1vFYC
No answer.964Please respect copyright.PENANA40RFda9uVh
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.964Please respect copyright.PENANAmK5fLiFLKL
I can't. I must stay strong.964Please respect copyright.PENANAQeZeVklZQp
My tears come faster.964Please respect copyright.PENANAY1nHJJsoZp
Keep it together, Lucy. Keep it together.964Please respect copyright.PENANACoGh8taTgH
"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.964Please respect copyright.PENANAL9v94OVUmx
"Ray!" I cry out. Please…964Please respect copyright.PENANAZa4LihaXUK
My hands fall to my sides, my hair a knotted mess. I stare silently at the ceiling.964Please respect copyright.PENANA2lpktBtzpi
Is it really that high?964Please respect copyright.PENANASkLcRSTzPB
I curl up on my side, staring into the black nothingness under my bed.964Please respect copyright.PENANAy9D7wQPXv8
I must move… I need to move.964Please respect copyright.PENANAfwmMBJstMK
I eye the door.964Please respect copyright.PENANADJDn2IlPCe
I will myself to sit up.964Please respect copyright.PENANAVF9gmmXNAa
My room turns upside down and goes blurry, my vision faltering. I still and wait for the dizziness to pass.964Please respect copyright.PENANA90Wgw3n7M5
I blink once – twice- and then sit on my knees.964Please respect copyright.PENANA0YE1CqPoo7
I focus on the door.964Please respect copyright.PENANA2o2BZDbulM
I crawl forward.964Please respect copyright.PENANAmWmKu2oEP9
I need to get there.964Please respect copyright.PENANAdQx3BDaSKJ
I slowly try to stand up. I advance, pushing one leg forward and then the other, and repeat.964Please respect copyright.PENANAPwgYXERm2z
My legs are wobbly, broken.964Please respect copyright.PENANAp1jWSGGbVG
Just a few more feet…964Please respect copyright.PENANACKyZJtbkww
I reach out my hand and take another step-964Please respect copyright.PENANAl2gPpW6tb3
and collapse to the ground.964Please respect copyright.PENANAqkLPua2odP
"No…" I try to stand again, but I can't get up.964Please respect copyright.PENANAe61qw58jto
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.964Please respect copyright.PENANApjb8WLAuZm
I suck in a breath.964Please respect copyright.PENANAW4EDFBvzaI
A chill of excitement and fear shoots up my arm, down my spine and spreads through my body.964Please respect copyright.PENANA5UWSX0VDDj
I bring the blade closer to me, another thrill flowing inside me.964Please respect copyright.PENANAASrdZa90uD
Just once.964Please respect copyright.PENANA6xRcCi2j2O
"Promise me."964Please respect copyright.PENANA0XPkEqPVjB
"I promise, Ray."964Please respect copyright.PENANADRweiJ1oJH
No, I can't. I promised him.964Please respect copyright.PENANAyTKgsEdfpb
But it'll feel so good…964Please respect copyright.PENANAQNeB15sVAN
I study the blade, turning it around in my hands.964Please respect copyright.PENANALaoYw3cRpA
It'll be quick. Just one cut.964Please respect copyright.PENANA5odK2qp7RK
It'll heal quickly, faster than normally.964Please respect copyright.PENANAy9QFe3umCu
Now's your chance, Ray… I look at the door, waiting for him to walk through and stop me.964Please respect copyright.PENANAO80aBvvxxN
Anytime, now…964Please respect copyright.PENANAyCyAGwOkgf
My vision blurs. I feel drops on my skin.964Please respect copyright.PENANAgkG7EIdVNM
Is it raining?964Please respect copyright.PENANAEbOKaU1wah
No, that’s impossible.964Please respect copyright.PENANAh8XVLRhBQa
I can't see.964Please respect copyright.PENANA3xLhB61NPN
I try to take breath but I choke up, a heavy weight sitting on my chest. A rock is stuck in my throat.964Please respect copyright.PENANA2upzRO9yzx
I can't breathe.964Please respect copyright.PENANATshj2ghyDW
I thrash around, clawing at my throat. I make a gurgling sound, trying to swallow.964Please respect copyright.PENANAjulwNeSBan
What's poking my leg…?964Please respect copyright.PENANADZPbmhwQlB
I look down, choking on air, and spot the blade.964Please respect copyright.PENANAIRvPA9Snr2
How did it get there?964Please respect copyright.PENANACSFpFyEibF
I take it and hold it closely to myself.964Please respect copyright.PENANA8kd5xFco4Y
How can something so evil look so beautiful?964Please respect copyright.PENANAeFDCvxPowD
I bring it down to my wrist and shiver.964Please respect copyright.PENANARaEGgACtua
So cold.964Please respect copyright.PENANApCEMHIGgGI
I press down and drive it across my skin.964Please respect copyright.PENANArvPvFJWyVR
I let out a shaky breath that I didn't know I was holding. My blood drips warm and red down my arm.964Please respect copyright.PENANAFmMXu8OUMv
I take another breath.964Please respect copyright.PENANAkGBlyY4VkI
Another.964Please respect copyright.PENANApN3CXxQ7vJ
My breathing comes harder, faster.964Please respect copyright.PENANArYpUP3HYTn
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.964Please respect copyright.PENANAVjyfdILIKA
I lean back, resting my head against my bed.964Please respect copyright.PENANABiRxcdq7Dp
I shut my eyes tightly.964Please respect copyright.PENANAvNwqTzKVew
I should not have done that.