Page 1 of Unsuitable

Seven Years Ago

Where am I?

What’s happening?

Pain everywhere…

Then, I remember.

No.

I force my eyes open.

I can’t see. It’s dark. My sight is blurred. Blood. I can feel it running down into my eye.

I can’t see anything.

I can’t see her.

Holding my breath, I listen…waiting for a sound to tell me where she is.

Nothing.

I try to say her name, but it hurts.

It hurts so much.

My lungs are burning…my stomach is on fire…I’m bleeding…

I have to move. Get help.

I reach my hand out, but all I feel is the damp earth I’m lying on.

I inch my fingers around, trying to find something to hold on to, to help me up, but there’s nothing.

Forcing my eyes open, I blink rapidly, trying to clear my vision, but it doesn’t work.

I rub the back of my hand over my eyes, clearing them of the blood and tears, and finally, I can see.

I turn my head to the side.

She’s there.

And she’s not moving. Her once-pretty pink dress is now covered in blood and dirt, and it’s pushed up, exposing her.

No.

I grit my teeth hard, rage tearing through me.

I drag myself over to her. Pain screams in my body. I press a weak hand to my stomach.

My hand is slick against my shirt.

Wet. So wet. And cold.

I’m bleeding badly. But that doesn’t matter. I just have to get to her. I have to know she’s okay.

She has to be okay.