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.630Please respect copyright.PENANAlQQZLf3alj
"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.630Please respect copyright.PENANAmx06w0AcB2
"Lucy," his voice is broken. "Please tell me you didn't."630Please respect copyright.PENANAjRHGzA3oSQ
"I-I didn't." I take a deep, shaky breath. "But I almost did." He turns his head and shuts his eyes.630Please respect copyright.PENANAPN7PWqERi2
"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."630Please respect copyright.PENANAvMC5x2cPnr
"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…630Please respect copyright.PENANA9i9TslWDoN
630Please respect copyright.PENANAXblca1yTY6
I open my eyes and stare at my wall, but it's not there.630Please respect copyright.PENANAwP7BYTcNXt
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.630Please respect copyright.PENANAhwivJc0Lsb
I feel nothing but pain and agony. A dark cloud is filling my head, making me seem heavy.630Please respect copyright.PENANAU8Y92SiGFz
Fake.630Please respect copyright.PENANA6zpFgFhFy9
Not myself.630Please respect copyright.PENANAuvPiAXZIvr
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.630Please respect copyright.PENANAP2aTlXDBSV
Oh, Ray. Where are you?!630Please respect copyright.PENANAEzy0Vkz7E0
"I'm going somewhere with my parents and we won't be back until Friday. Call me if you need anything, OK?"630Please respect copyright.PENANAKVdOsFBMuC
Help me, Ray! Help me!630Please respect copyright.PENANA9vhPz3NdSQ
I punch in his number and put the phone to my ear.630Please respect copyright.PENANAnzxZqHeeS5
Voice mail.630Please respect copyright.PENANAYhjF44iLcy
I try again.630Please respect copyright.PENANA4dHhRojliG
No answer.630Please respect copyright.PENANA02xC4rPwP3
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.630Please respect copyright.PENANABgGnEmEPWD
I can't. I must stay strong.630Please respect copyright.PENANAEAiZ3KM6Jh
My tears come faster.630Please respect copyright.PENANAUAYdBMeg4Q
Keep it together, Lucy. Keep it together.630Please respect copyright.PENANANT9zUuLlnR
"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.630Please respect copyright.PENANAIjq5VgGATf
"Ray!" I cry out. Please…630Please respect copyright.PENANAZhIw9UhqH2
My hands fall to my sides, my hair a knotted mess. I stare silently at the ceiling.630Please respect copyright.PENANAe0pozrg43K
Is it really that high?630Please respect copyright.PENANAFGTBqaqkqf
I curl up on my side, staring into the black nothingness under my bed.630Please respect copyright.PENANAX3XbpcsNAT
I must move… I need to move.630Please respect copyright.PENANAgJvg5vKyWq
I eye the door.630Please respect copyright.PENANAedlq3GPXV0
I will myself to sit up.630Please respect copyright.PENANATRoKsvQxpW
My room turns upside down and goes blurry, my vision faltering. I still and wait for the dizziness to pass.630Please respect copyright.PENANA5m6iXDH7KM
I blink once – twice- and then sit on my knees.630Please respect copyright.PENANAxqbIdCtwvo
I focus on the door.630Please respect copyright.PENANAmp5iDQfy0D
I crawl forward.630Please respect copyright.PENANAjFxaZXTMUi
I need to get there.630Please respect copyright.PENANAdmu2DuSrKH
I slowly try to stand up. I advance, pushing one leg forward and then the other, and repeat.630Please respect copyright.PENANA4NmJWqM6HZ
My legs are wobbly, broken.630Please respect copyright.PENANA7aB2tr1dwc
Just a few more feet…630Please respect copyright.PENANAi10ZoDqFKz
I reach out my hand and take another step-630Please respect copyright.PENANA4Pk2DMygxs
and collapse to the ground.630Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3UxXVq7Tk
"No…" I try to stand again, but I can't get up.630Please respect copyright.PENANAAy6JUj2eM6
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.630Please respect copyright.PENANAloxUXT4xkM
I suck in a breath.630Please respect copyright.PENANAEFQCchIufF
A chill of excitement and fear shoots up my arm, down my spine and spreads through my body.630Please respect copyright.PENANA0brhcjMyap
I bring the blade closer to me, another thrill flowing inside me.630Please respect copyright.PENANAHON5eESVCN
Just once.630Please respect copyright.PENANAAWlwpTH5Jo
"Promise me."630Please respect copyright.PENANADN41Vgv7OY
"I promise, Ray."630Please respect copyright.PENANAuG1YaCxSol
No, I can't. I promised him.630Please respect copyright.PENANA2erOzeZhWO
But it'll feel so good…630Please respect copyright.PENANA3QeuvKR3Cf
I study the blade, turning it around in my hands.630Please respect copyright.PENANAKsVeWUOPou
It'll be quick. Just one cut.630Please respect copyright.PENANAnBcEc39MjI
It'll heal quickly, faster than normally.630Please respect copyright.PENANA69EbkMAzs5
Now's your chance, Ray… I look at the door, waiting for him to walk through and stop me.630Please respect copyright.PENANAwQwSV0WxXo
Anytime, now…630Please respect copyright.PENANA6qKoqFOtUY
My vision blurs. I feel drops on my skin.630Please respect copyright.PENANAOOdVVjPiD3
Is it raining?630Please respect copyright.PENANAtEf2tctmsu
No, that’s impossible.630Please respect copyright.PENANAFNStBposoe
I can't see.630Please respect copyright.PENANALThLn9jS75
I try to take breath but I choke up, a heavy weight sitting on my chest. A rock is stuck in my throat.630Please respect copyright.PENANAv68R4pcGOB
I can't breathe.630Please respect copyright.PENANAchH6fE2QPG
I thrash around, clawing at my throat. I make a gurgling sound, trying to swallow.630Please respect copyright.PENANA8wR0qpX1zU
What's poking my leg…?630Please respect copyright.PENANAFlkMUC5MDW
I look down, choking on air, and spot the blade.630Please respect copyright.PENANAJveD1p5KGH
How did it get there?630Please respect copyright.PENANAr3smqxWx7b
I take it and hold it closely to myself.630Please respect copyright.PENANAypAeboTpHi
How can something so evil look so beautiful?630Please respect copyright.PENANAkje7eYM2et
I bring it down to my wrist and shiver.630Please respect copyright.PENANAHUZ6KxQIeb
So cold.630Please respect copyright.PENANATPRTJb7DGV
I press down and drive it across my skin.630Please respect copyright.PENANADymgL3tj2S
I let out a shaky breath that I didn't know I was holding. My blood drips warm and red down my arm.630Please respect copyright.PENANAKkKOhpL8Ku
I take another breath.630Please respect copyright.PENANAqBUHlrbjPq
Another.630Please respect copyright.PENANAWQlbVApbLn
My breathing comes harder, faster.630Please respect copyright.PENANAyqML1SkXP4
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.630Please respect copyright.PENANARS12Ia2tNu
I lean back, resting my head against my bed.630Please respect copyright.PENANAOKvIAF3vEU
I shut my eyes tightly.630Please respect copyright.PENANAf6dDubI7Ya
I should not have done that.