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.977Please respect copyright.PENANAHLbJ7q6wKp
"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.977Please respect copyright.PENANAgCWdi5hvzH
"Lucy," his voice is broken. "Please tell me you didn't."977Please respect copyright.PENANAu4cCa1ac0X
"I-I didn't." I take a deep, shaky breath. "But I almost did." He turns his head and shuts his eyes.977Please respect copyright.PENANAzsr3J05rtF
"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."977Please respect copyright.PENANAjqUTxq057e
"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…977Please respect copyright.PENANAWlyi6vCbVt
977Please respect copyright.PENANAXvPdkupm3B
I open my eyes and stare at my wall, but it's not there.977Please respect copyright.PENANAzaCOOLb5VG
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.977Please respect copyright.PENANAiyrYpGg3Hk
I feel nothing but pain and agony. A dark cloud is filling my head, making me seem heavy.977Please respect copyright.PENANAsog798Ipkp
Fake.977Please respect copyright.PENANAaiiMGcDZp2
Not myself.977Please respect copyright.PENANAPgVcndZIjB
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.977Please respect copyright.PENANAxohqon7YvC
Oh, Ray. Where are you?!977Please respect copyright.PENANAICO3vHMetE
"I'm going somewhere with my parents and we won't be back until Friday. Call me if you need anything, OK?"977Please respect copyright.PENANAmQSeJq8ZQm
Help me, Ray! Help me!977Please respect copyright.PENANAUYmlC2LXr9
I punch in his number and put the phone to my ear.977Please respect copyright.PENANAIaUVmg3yRH
Voice mail.977Please respect copyright.PENANAW6gXnkkmOe
I try again.977Please respect copyright.PENANAVN75wRGM8n
No answer.977Please respect copyright.PENANAjeukRfPuTy
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.977Please respect copyright.PENANANnCQrQ6uZI
I can't. I must stay strong.977Please respect copyright.PENANAtP2AnBjVZx
My tears come faster.977Please respect copyright.PENANAEY12TE9g5d
Keep it together, Lucy. Keep it together.977Please respect copyright.PENANAIOS0G0bD4w
"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.977Please respect copyright.PENANA5FKxrfoy8B
"Ray!" I cry out. Please…977Please respect copyright.PENANAfAeUNLMZ6m
My hands fall to my sides, my hair a knotted mess. I stare silently at the ceiling.977Please respect copyright.PENANAgfB5XpZZa8
Is it really that high?977Please respect copyright.PENANATaxf0NbAVy
I curl up on my side, staring into the black nothingness under my bed.977Please respect copyright.PENANAdn3w1s7x0n
I must move… I need to move.977Please respect copyright.PENANASrXKCGD4z0
I eye the door.977Please respect copyright.PENANALX4wRPPekl
I will myself to sit up.977Please respect copyright.PENANAzz8S3qPfUr
My room turns upside down and goes blurry, my vision faltering. I still and wait for the dizziness to pass.977Please respect copyright.PENANALPejgHQ9pt
I blink once – twice- and then sit on my knees.977Please respect copyright.PENANA086Ckc0ZSm
I focus on the door.977Please respect copyright.PENANA5DsSXCSCK1
I crawl forward.977Please respect copyright.PENANADQtT8Fx5kM
I need to get there.977Please respect copyright.PENANAc4DLBZCU9O
I slowly try to stand up. I advance, pushing one leg forward and then the other, and repeat.977Please respect copyright.PENANAS3Mew5cNXT
My legs are wobbly, broken.977Please respect copyright.PENANAT9P7jrgbKb
Just a few more feet…977Please respect copyright.PENANAxA57AlM4z5
I reach out my hand and take another step-977Please respect copyright.PENANAOf1xwvI1Az
and collapse to the ground.977Please respect copyright.PENANAzyDSLPIgnr
"No…" I try to stand again, but I can't get up.977Please respect copyright.PENANARcWqNWUXUT
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.977Please respect copyright.PENANAg2Uk3RvId0
I suck in a breath.977Please respect copyright.PENANAwPCh62wvRg
A chill of excitement and fear shoots up my arm, down my spine and spreads through my body.977Please respect copyright.PENANAel9S54atF9
I bring the blade closer to me, another thrill flowing inside me.977Please respect copyright.PENANAfAI5aBwQ09
Just once.977Please respect copyright.PENANAPeEdH25oHP
"Promise me."977Please respect copyright.PENANA5xTHXN6d0N
"I promise, Ray."977Please respect copyright.PENANAZU5L0qsUur
No, I can't. I promised him.977Please respect copyright.PENANAkNjISugyHk
But it'll feel so good…977Please respect copyright.PENANAec3DqeRpvG
I study the blade, turning it around in my hands.977Please respect copyright.PENANAV0DPlkgwT5
It'll be quick. Just one cut.977Please respect copyright.PENANAY5ovHlQjMT
It'll heal quickly, faster than normally.977Please respect copyright.PENANA3FNsS8Td6g
Now's your chance, Ray… I look at the door, waiting for him to walk through and stop me.977Please respect copyright.PENANAdcQHN2P4XL
Anytime, now…977Please respect copyright.PENANA3mBb7D9pqe
My vision blurs. I feel drops on my skin.977Please respect copyright.PENANA1HnUYeWopJ
Is it raining?977Please respect copyright.PENANAchfGrtmoBQ
No, that’s impossible.977Please respect copyright.PENANACfDc2MGxuq
I can't see.977Please respect copyright.PENANAWNwTQ84CbE
I try to take breath but I choke up, a heavy weight sitting on my chest. A rock is stuck in my throat.977Please respect copyright.PENANAVkj50h3fXF
I can't breathe.977Please respect copyright.PENANAF3TLkcp5Dj
I thrash around, clawing at my throat. I make a gurgling sound, trying to swallow.977Please respect copyright.PENANAYoiW3dJev8
What's poking my leg…?977Please respect copyright.PENANA7QRww5d3Pf
I look down, choking on air, and spot the blade.977Please respect copyright.PENANAhnRsCNUwUS
How did it get there?977Please respect copyright.PENANAHmTAbIXnSC
I take it and hold it closely to myself.977Please respect copyright.PENANAn4bjE6PCNF
How can something so evil look so beautiful?977Please respect copyright.PENANAOyK0HTlAF3
I bring it down to my wrist and shiver.977Please respect copyright.PENANAPXrUL0NLv9
So cold.977Please respect copyright.PENANAbhI0vUrtOF
I press down and drive it across my skin.977Please respect copyright.PENANAg103xjwrBX
I let out a shaky breath that I didn't know I was holding. My blood drips warm and red down my arm.977Please respect copyright.PENANAgGaOTOLLcu
I take another breath.977Please respect copyright.PENANASp5mUVZU5B
Another.977Please respect copyright.PENANAQmUCwIq0Oj
My breathing comes harder, faster.977Please respect copyright.PENANA9m2Ozsqm83
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.977Please respect copyright.PENANATMRGQehNJf
I lean back, resting my head against my bed.977Please respect copyright.PENANAnRG777YNdT
I shut my eyes tightly.977Please respect copyright.PENANA2qu3bs0YAs
I should not have done that.