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.661Please respect copyright.PENANA13v8TwFGpe
"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.661Please respect copyright.PENANAkS3hgAgqcg
"Lucy," his voice is broken. "Please tell me you didn't."661Please respect copyright.PENANAZcYpQ8641j
"I-I didn't." I take a deep, shaky breath. "But I almost did." He turns his head and shuts his eyes.661Please respect copyright.PENANA95nuSUiPDo
"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."661Please respect copyright.PENANA8Q6uu3AWJ5
"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…661Please respect copyright.PENANAXMo8zdCvfW
661Please respect copyright.PENANAurJBvVrYNF
I open my eyes and stare at my wall, but it's not there.661Please respect copyright.PENANAEdaIyvvOZl
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.661Please respect copyright.PENANAlYkb8JXauD
I feel nothing but pain and agony. A dark cloud is filling my head, making me seem heavy.661Please respect copyright.PENANAnaLNSFbdBb
Fake.661Please respect copyright.PENANAOYdp4sYzYp
Not myself.661Please respect copyright.PENANAS0yVNSEAGo
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.661Please respect copyright.PENANAH5hQqOOj1S
Oh, Ray. Where are you?!661Please respect copyright.PENANAOkWku2lY6u
"I'm going somewhere with my parents and we won't be back until Friday. Call me if you need anything, OK?"661Please respect copyright.PENANAIfR9aZCV3P
Help me, Ray! Help me!661Please respect copyright.PENANAZC379sTb0G
I punch in his number and put the phone to my ear.661Please respect copyright.PENANAgNMlfQGXQM
Voice mail.661Please respect copyright.PENANANRGE6lsyRd
I try again.661Please respect copyright.PENANA8NkJs1987J
No answer.661Please respect copyright.PENANAS1cDGbpy8m
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.661Please respect copyright.PENANAEXnV5LnXm6
I can't. I must stay strong.661Please respect copyright.PENANAXBA2izktuu
My tears come faster.661Please respect copyright.PENANAlROK7GvDsd
Keep it together, Lucy. Keep it together.661Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ec1UnkZen
"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.661Please respect copyright.PENANAuDJYxs7eop
"Ray!" I cry out. Please…661Please respect copyright.PENANAwZcHWgSN6B
My hands fall to my sides, my hair a knotted mess. I stare silently at the ceiling.661Please respect copyright.PENANAVIApR6hKBX
Is it really that high?661Please respect copyright.PENANAWLTxwKAneU
I curl up on my side, staring into the black nothingness under my bed.661Please respect copyright.PENANASfgLJVVVJv
I must move… I need to move.661Please respect copyright.PENANAIbgd9KXzCt
I eye the door.661Please respect copyright.PENANAmN8hD6SMYb
I will myself to sit up.661Please respect copyright.PENANAkVAXkM9aT8
My room turns upside down and goes blurry, my vision faltering. I still and wait for the dizziness to pass.661Please respect copyright.PENANAKNbpGCiJym
I blink once – twice- and then sit on my knees.661Please respect copyright.PENANAtFsNyVSM3R
I focus on the door.661Please respect copyright.PENANAmTrVGpkdlA
I crawl forward.661Please respect copyright.PENANA8X2H9hMVHg
I need to get there.661Please respect copyright.PENANAFSrvUP2CX4
I slowly try to stand up. I advance, pushing one leg forward and then the other, and repeat.661Please respect copyright.PENANAKM7t9CXMqo
My legs are wobbly, broken.661Please respect copyright.PENANAFFW6Z9zPVH
Just a few more feet…661Please respect copyright.PENANAnBT2nxt3bB
I reach out my hand and take another step-661Please respect copyright.PENANAs7JY0NSQzu
and collapse to the ground.661Please respect copyright.PENANA4QXTs01qC1
"No…" I try to stand again, but I can't get up.661Please respect copyright.PENANA0JMnkR8jv1
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.661Please respect copyright.PENANAqhDt6y0oJp
I suck in a breath.661Please respect copyright.PENANAEFZ5fGzakq
A chill of excitement and fear shoots up my arm, down my spine and spreads through my body.661Please respect copyright.PENANAaHD4KtlOqX
I bring the blade closer to me, another thrill flowing inside me.661Please respect copyright.PENANA2eNgnFdVzu
Just once.661Please respect copyright.PENANAtVg8Hl3EKy
"Promise me."661Please respect copyright.PENANA302YrL3p3L
"I promise, Ray."661Please respect copyright.PENANAP2T7i1hPJ7
No, I can't. I promised him.661Please respect copyright.PENANAf4nb6RoVzJ
But it'll feel so good…661Please respect copyright.PENANAKININ8FWeJ
I study the blade, turning it around in my hands.661Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3rEFqo03I
It'll be quick. Just one cut.661Please respect copyright.PENANARj82HgieUQ
It'll heal quickly, faster than normally.661Please respect copyright.PENANAoH0Wa2KsJ5
Now's your chance, Ray… I look at the door, waiting for him to walk through and stop me.661Please respect copyright.PENANAcTs7iu2Pnc
Anytime, now…661Please respect copyright.PENANAMVEnmsOklE
My vision blurs. I feel drops on my skin.661Please respect copyright.PENANAIroc6fBB9F
Is it raining?661Please respect copyright.PENANAG3Kk1esH1y
No, that’s impossible.661Please respect copyright.PENANATVjnv5bPzr
I can't see.661Please respect copyright.PENANAtDvrJRN4cr
I try to take breath but I choke up, a heavy weight sitting on my chest. A rock is stuck in my throat.661Please respect copyright.PENANA4Dmj6931Ec
I can't breathe.661Please respect copyright.PENANAAbB6IdYiXW
I thrash around, clawing at my throat. I make a gurgling sound, trying to swallow.661Please respect copyright.PENANAVBVvd0mAea
What's poking my leg…?661Please respect copyright.PENANAdiCyPv6nOS
I look down, choking on air, and spot the blade.661Please respect copyright.PENANAKdU6jkWITR
How did it get there?661Please respect copyright.PENANAjZC69piWnT
I take it and hold it closely to myself.661Please respect copyright.PENANAD2fXyHsVkh
How can something so evil look so beautiful?661Please respect copyright.PENANAx28GupMLTK
I bring it down to my wrist and shiver.661Please respect copyright.PENANAbibGjSPMZ0
So cold.661Please respect copyright.PENANA4mQSsJEUsD
I press down and drive it across my skin.661Please respect copyright.PENANAoFJqnKqMBy
I let out a shaky breath that I didn't know I was holding. My blood drips warm and red down my arm.661Please respect copyright.PENANAoqU36hyZpD
I take another breath.661Please respect copyright.PENANAIteOGBkyED
Another.661Please respect copyright.PENANAmuoeAXN28c
My breathing comes harder, faster.661Please respect copyright.PENANAwyo37TjHIF
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.661Please respect copyright.PENANAAQbAOOyNxU
I lean back, resting my head against my bed.661Please respect copyright.PENANAQMlDG1kXfM
I shut my eyes tightly.661Please respect copyright.PENANAVMqsPYKqjk
I should not have done that.