When I was finally able to relax, my mother had come into my room without knocking and sat on my bed. She looked at me, took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from her pocket, and lit one. I watched the smoke twirl and then fade into the air before she spoke.451Please respect copyright.PENANAE6fqXHZaDH
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“I just got off the phone with Dr. Monroe. He didn’t tell me much; just that he couldn’t see you anymore. What happened?”451Please respect copyright.PENANA2vPQ8gzl3r
451Please respect copyright.PENANA9jOLIqKXU8
To the untrained ears, her question sounded normal. But I knew what she was asking. Things were never anyone else’s fault, always mine. She would tell me my dad drank because I was such an awful child, but I didn’t believe that. He drank because he turned into an asshole and wanted to hurt his family.451Please respect copyright.PENANAxdrePbFxAm
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Sliding off the bed, I went to the window and stared out into the night. Somewhere, a car horn blared and tires screeched. I wondered if the person had gotten into a car accident. That one thought took me away from what was happening now, and it was enough.451Please respect copyright.PENANAklNKNOXODi
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“Kendall?”451Please respect copyright.PENANAgWIfcjdKG0
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Her voice had called me back, away from the darkness, and I turned around to face my mother. She looked tired, almost like her being near me was physically exhausting.451Please respect copyright.PENANAb0GOeiEoxn
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“What?” I asked, pushing my hair away from my eyes. “It’s none of your business what happened.”451Please respect copyright.PENANAuBUO6LI1W4
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“I’m going to pay for another doctor to tell you there’s nothing wrong with you, so I have a right to know what happened with this one.”451Please respect copyright.PENANAV8avkXf3fo
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I couldn’t tell her. There was no way she would believe me. I bit down on my cheek and said, “I don’t want to talk about this now. I’m tired. Can you please get out?”451Please respect copyright.PENANALWP78rvHu7
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Surprisingly, she listened. After the door shut, I collapsed onto my bed and shut my eyes. I wished I hadn’t fallen asleep.451Please respect copyright.PENANACc6WTrDFcs
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Something about this was familiar, but I couldn’t place it. I stood with my hand on the doorknob, ready to turn it. When I did and it opened easily, there was no one in it, just a desk, papers covering it, and a lamp.451Please respect copyright.PENANAwwt9cP8gU5
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He wasn’t here.451Please respect copyright.PENANA4fvjbRMOXw
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Backing out of the room, I wheeled around to face him. He was standing against the wall, his eyes frightened. He went to ask me what I was doing here, why I was doing this, why—451Please respect copyright.PENANA3wGF259Hui
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It didn’t matter anymore as I pulled out the gun and shot two rounds into his chest. I watched his body slam back, blood spluttering from his wounds. He was dead before I stepped over him and out into the night.451Please respect copyright.PENANAuOycGYTpgW
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My eyes snapped open to meet the darkness and I sat up. For a moment, I had no idea where I was, but then it all came flooding back. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and dialed the only number I could think of.451Please respect copyright.PENANAr8cCyqvZTQ
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Two rings and he answered, despite the time.451Please respect copyright.PENANAumiXQ6fUXr
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“Kendall?” His voice was groggy.451Please respect copyright.PENANAYdSxbFcu8l
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“Please,” I whispered into the receiver, my breathing heavy. “Please help me, Christian.” 451Please respect copyright.PENANAMHq0cHuV02