Time slips.
Nurses murmur, machines hum, doors swish. Every sound blurs into the next.
A hand touches my forehead. My mother again. “He’s warm. That’s good.”
“He’s going to be okay,” my father says.
But his voice is strained, as if he’s not sure he believes what he’s saying.
Light.
It creeps in. My eyelids feel glued shut. I fight them open anyway.
White ceiling. A blur. Machines. Tubes. Beeping steady beside me.
Shapes come into focus. My mother. Eyes swollen, cheeks wet, but smiling through it. She’s right there, holding my hand like she’ll never let go.
My father on the other side. Relief softens his face, just for a second.
“You’re awake,” my mother whispers.
I swallow, throat raw, but the word scrapes out anyway. “Mom.”
Her hand trembles. She leans closer, kisses my forehead.
“Good boy.” My father. “I told you not to let go.”
I let out a shaky breath.
I didn’t. I obeyed.
I’m still here.
Five
Tabitha
I can smell the stale scent of alcohol on his breath.
I don’t answer him, just keep my gaze locked onto his, trying to hide the fear that I know must be radiating off me in waves.
I glance down at the phone still clutched in my hand. I could call 9-1-1. But what if the operator doesn’t pick up quickly? What if they can’t get here in time? What then?
“Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to walk alone at night?” he asks with a smirk, his words slurred. He reaches toward me.
I flinch back, my heart pounding. “Get away from me,” I say, but it comes out a whisper.
He cocks his head, grinning. “Maybe I should teach you a lesson.”
Before I can press the call button, he lunges forward and snatches the phone from my hand. My only means of calling for help is now in the hands of the one person I need to be saved from.
“Nice try,” he says, pocketing my phone.
Fear claws at my insides, but I manage to maintain my composure. I refuse to let him see my fear. I swallow and find my voice. “Fuck off.”
I take a step back, but quick as a whip, he reaches out and grazes my arm. I shudder and pull away from his touch like I’ve been stung. My heart is thundering, my mind racing.
Now what?
