Not because she didn’t love me but because she couldn’t survive him.
“Mom had the right idea,” I choke out. “All these years you made me think it was her fault… but it was you,”
His eyes flash dangerously as he steps forward, grabbing my face so hard my cheeks burn, and he forces me to look at him.
“Let that anger out, sweetheart,” he whispers. “But forget about Hayden Marks.” He smiles, and my breathing hitches. “He's as good as dead.”
Then my world shatters while he smiles wide like this news just made his entire night.
“Goodnight, sweet child.” Then he walks away.
I collapse onto the floor the second he is gone.Dead? Dead?
The word echoes through my skull.No. No. No. No.
With shaking hands, I get up and grab my phone, hitting Hayden’s name.
Bringing the phone to my ear it goes straight to voicemail.
Not even a ring.
My chest caves as I text him through blurred vision.
Me:
Hayden, please. Please don’t do this to me. I need you. You can’t leave me too. Everyone always leaves. Please just answer me. Call me. Anything. Come to me if you can. I love you always.
A sob rips out of me, making my throat hurt. I curl into myself on the floor, clutching my phone against my chest like I can somehow hold onto him through it.
Like love alone can keep someone alive.
Eventually, I force myself back into bed and stare at the ceiling while tears soak my pillow.
Maybe this is a nightmare. Maybe I’ll wake up and Hayden will be climbing through my window, grinning at me like always.
Maybe there will be a text waiting for me in the morning.
Please. Please let my forever boy come back to me.
Hayden
“So Cold-Crossfade”
Six months later…
“Hayden Kingston Marks.” Judge Fitzgerald’s voice slices through the room. “Please rise.” The chains around my wrists clink as I stand. Fifteen years old and already buried alive.
The courtroom smells like old wood, sweat, and corruption. Somewhere behind me people whisper like I’m some monster dragged out of a sewer.
Maybe I am.
That's what everyone always thought anyway.Trailer trash. Troublemaker. Future criminal.
The dirtbag from the wrong side of the tracks. I should’ve told Justin to just stay home. This was supposed to be a one man job, and now… he’s gone.
That thought eats at me every damn night inside holding, but the truth is simple.
Justin had a future. A real one. He had parents who loved him. Money and opportunities. His college applications were sitting on his desk that night. Just waiting to be filled out.
