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“Jacquie, he’s eighteen. He’s an adult,” Dad says.
Spinning around, Mom glares at Dad. “I don’t care if he’s thirty years old! He is still my baby.”
“All right, I’m leaving now.”
“Donovan, we are not done talking,” Mom calls after me.
“Yes, we are! I love you, Mom,” I say over my shoulder, leaving my parents to bicker about my dick.
When I go back to the room, I find Shorty crying and hugging the blanket tightly against her chest. Setting the soup and glass of water down, I grab my phone and earbuds from the drawer, and slide into bed, pulling her to my chest. Shorty relaxes into me as she continues to break down.
I look through my playlist and land on the song I’ve been searching for. I insert one ear plug into her ear and the other into mine and press play.
“Not Alone” by Red flows through.
* * *
A gut-wrenching scream awakens me from a deep sleep. Shorty shakes and thrashes beside me.
“Please, stop! No more, please.”
I lean over and turn on the bedside lamp.
“Shh, it’s okay, Shorty,” I try to console her, but she continues to cry out, tears falling from her eyes. Dread gnaws my insides from the sound of fear in her voice.
“Oh, God! Please, stop. I can’t take it anymore,” she sobs, swinging her fist.
“It’s just me! Baby, it’s Donnie.” I catch her wrist before her fist connects with my face.
My door flies open and Mom, Dad, and Ash barge into the room with concerned looks on their faces.
“Please,” Shorty mumbles, sweat coating her body.
“It’s just a nightmare.” My voice barely a whisper, I hold her tighter.
“Is she okay?” Ash asks.
I don’t answer him as I glance back at Shorty, trying to wake her up. “Shorty”—my voice cracks—“Baby, wake up. It’s just a nightmare. You’re safe.”
“Donnie! Oh, God! Help me, please help me,” she cries, lips trembling.
I fucking hate that she’s going through this.
Is this what she felt like when she was being tortured? Bile rises in my throat just thinking about it.
“I’m here. You’re safe, I promise. No one is going to hurt you anymore. You’re safe.” I repeat the words until she settles down. She whimpers, trying to catch her breath.
I tighten my arms around her, burrowing my nose in her neck. “It’s safe. You’re okay.” I press a kiss against her neck and on top of her head.
I hear the door click. I think they all left, but then Ash walks over and crawls into bed and hugs Shorty, then lies beside her just like when we were kids. Shorty lies in between us, but her head rests on my chest so she’s facing me. Ash looks over her to me and the tears glistening in his eyes must mirror the emotions on my face.
I softly sing “My Girl” tomy girluntil her breathing slows down and she’s finally fast asleep.
Chapter 17- Flashback
SADIE
“Wake up.”
