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.911Please respect copyright.PENANAb2OUMOHgJj
"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.911Please respect copyright.PENANActHNpPuE3Y
"Lucy," his voice is broken. "Please tell me you didn't."911Please respect copyright.PENANAWlQVKRO6ut
"I-I didn't." I take a deep, shaky breath. "But I almost did." He turns his head and shuts his eyes.911Please respect copyright.PENANAlj2DeLkNu9
"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."911Please respect copyright.PENANAIA1XrkJlMl
"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…911Please respect copyright.PENANAuSoxAA8eCB
911Please respect copyright.PENANAfW7WdD52jE
I open my eyes and stare at my wall, but it's not there.911Please respect copyright.PENANAbeL4Iz237K
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.911Please respect copyright.PENANADGl2hRWlM6
I feel nothing but pain and agony. A dark cloud is filling my head, making me seem heavy.911Please respect copyright.PENANARQEETeCpI5
Fake.911Please respect copyright.PENANAHPwPjqCDot
Not myself.911Please respect copyright.PENANAHC9ByufgeD
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.911Please respect copyright.PENANAtfPAHs63ef
Oh, Ray. Where are you?!911Please respect copyright.PENANAleDOJH3wGZ
"I'm going somewhere with my parents and we won't be back until Friday. Call me if you need anything, OK?"911Please respect copyright.PENANAYwbtpCfJB6
Help me, Ray! Help me!911Please respect copyright.PENANAbsMqYjSEy4
I punch in his number and put the phone to my ear.911Please respect copyright.PENANAkGoJpr3wMl
Voice mail.911Please respect copyright.PENANAY8nvp5SVlq
I try again.911Please respect copyright.PENANANFQL3Kl2kl
No answer.911Please respect copyright.PENANAsj5qwglAVX
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.911Please respect copyright.PENANABdHJqZJknO
I can't. I must stay strong.911Please respect copyright.PENANAxEsV0Xu9Ti
My tears come faster.911Please respect copyright.PENANAtZ9hRCHw0T
Keep it together, Lucy. Keep it together.911Please respect copyright.PENANAX0IaLAIBeE
"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.911Please respect copyright.PENANAEJxswLMQ7z
"Ray!" I cry out. Please…911Please respect copyright.PENANAmEc8SQYl8s
My hands fall to my sides, my hair a knotted mess. I stare silently at the ceiling.911Please respect copyright.PENANAPM1g83siki
Is it really that high?911Please respect copyright.PENANAPknEzlEArN
I curl up on my side, staring into the black nothingness under my bed.911Please respect copyright.PENANAEBuyClotIA
I must move… I need to move.911Please respect copyright.PENANA8HIYVaZq9b
I eye the door.911Please respect copyright.PENANABr1k0NNX0M
I will myself to sit up.911Please respect copyright.PENANA90x6mUDjsO
My room turns upside down and goes blurry, my vision faltering. I still and wait for the dizziness to pass.911Please respect copyright.PENANAzvNAao4wBS
I blink once – twice- and then sit on my knees.911Please respect copyright.PENANA2WeyKvaCzN
I focus on the door.911Please respect copyright.PENANAzVvE0UisLl
I crawl forward.911Please respect copyright.PENANAD6hb3EhowF
I need to get there.911Please respect copyright.PENANAMlFqbkl7d1
I slowly try to stand up. I advance, pushing one leg forward and then the other, and repeat.911Please respect copyright.PENANAKlvlD1E6tF
My legs are wobbly, broken.911Please respect copyright.PENANAUVPXCM1ynQ
Just a few more feet…911Please respect copyright.PENANAHCrVvSPofr
I reach out my hand and take another step-911Please respect copyright.PENANAovvSRETvMG
and collapse to the ground.911Please respect copyright.PENANAzU5kOtLYAK
"No…" I try to stand again, but I can't get up.911Please respect copyright.PENANAJAKmuf4INF
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.911Please respect copyright.PENANApQIYsENg8E
I suck in a breath.911Please respect copyright.PENANAGDEqqcNYMQ
A chill of excitement and fear shoots up my arm, down my spine and spreads through my body.911Please respect copyright.PENANAZc1ntOkI2X
I bring the blade closer to me, another thrill flowing inside me.911Please respect copyright.PENANAB97oc4SKx9
Just once.911Please respect copyright.PENANAMjzDJxkiCz
"Promise me."911Please respect copyright.PENANAVdrVmxiVWs
"I promise, Ray."911Please respect copyright.PENANAdvWT8cAHkR
No, I can't. I promised him.911Please respect copyright.PENANAkrD5OdctEX
But it'll feel so good…911Please respect copyright.PENANAvg88GiblMg
I study the blade, turning it around in my hands.911Please respect copyright.PENANAKTTiliRc6B
It'll be quick. Just one cut.911Please respect copyright.PENANAYqrrUE3IIq
It'll heal quickly, faster than normally.911Please respect copyright.PENANAt0l3ASRIY8
Now's your chance, Ray… I look at the door, waiting for him to walk through and stop me.911Please respect copyright.PENANAyJ2p396sz8
Anytime, now…911Please respect copyright.PENANAaSp7vaEHAR
My vision blurs. I feel drops on my skin.911Please respect copyright.PENANAV8gQttSoXB
Is it raining?911Please respect copyright.PENANAaVK8ymUd22
No, that’s impossible.911Please respect copyright.PENANAEe7wGO62bc
I can't see.911Please respect copyright.PENANAhzTeB0jvqT
I try to take breath but I choke up, a heavy weight sitting on my chest. A rock is stuck in my throat.911Please respect copyright.PENANAgMC6XLRptA
I can't breathe.911Please respect copyright.PENANAktTAscVtSI
I thrash around, clawing at my throat. I make a gurgling sound, trying to swallow.911Please respect copyright.PENANApULP3LLZM6
What's poking my leg…?911Please respect copyright.PENANAfkyjHiRSMw
I look down, choking on air, and spot the blade.911Please respect copyright.PENANA0o6RvLoGvf
How did it get there?911Please respect copyright.PENANAAUVsWkRl3O
I take it and hold it closely to myself.911Please respect copyright.PENANAfvt4HiAkjn
How can something so evil look so beautiful?911Please respect copyright.PENANAgt33bVv9QQ
I bring it down to my wrist and shiver.911Please respect copyright.PENANAYUYBm1u4kA
So cold.911Please respect copyright.PENANAOkzkWIRTbh
I press down and drive it across my skin.911Please respect copyright.PENANAjCVxVU0a36
I let out a shaky breath that I didn't know I was holding. My blood drips warm and red down my arm.911Please respect copyright.PENANABh7OuxdVKo
I take another breath.911Please respect copyright.PENANAWANk39XZS7
Another.911Please respect copyright.PENANAAmCzIS55xa
My breathing comes harder, faster.911Please respect copyright.PENANAnRR5viLe46
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.911Please respect copyright.PENANAMMpofIKTMt
I lean back, resting my head against my bed.911Please respect copyright.PENANAWvoOrWBJ8b
I shut my eyes tightly.911Please respect copyright.PENANAR1RSH5jvpl
I should not have done that.