Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62543 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“I don’t know! I don’t know!” I scream into the phone, tears stinging my eyes. I look up at the house again, feeling like I’m failing him. “I don’t know,” I croak and cover my mouth, hating how weak I sound.
“Is the emergency at the location of your phone?” the woman asks me and I nod my head as I answer her, “Yes, please come fast.”
“I’ve got your address. The police are on their way. I need to know what-”
As soon as she tells me they’re coming, I drop the phone and bolt to the house. Finally help is coming for him. Finally.
“Jay!” I cry out as I grip the wooden railing and race up the stairs. The screen door slams open as I rush to get inside. As soon as I enter the house, I hear Toby barking again.
But it turns to white noise. Nothing matters as I sway on numb legs and stare at the ground.
The bookshelf is splintered on the ground, the books are strewn about. The lamp is shattered, and covering the floor with shards of thin glass are specks of blood that get larger and larger as I walk quietly to the other side of the room.
“Jay?” I call out, just as my eyes lock on his limp body in the middle of the room. The coffee table is overturned and he’s lying next to it. Where he lay the first night I snuck from my room to see him.
“John?” I call out his name out of desperation. I walk faster when there’s no response, falling to my knees next to him. His face is bloodied and bruised, as are his knuckles. A large mark on his face is bright red, covering nearly half of it and it’s then that I realize he slammed his head repeatedly into the coffee table.
I put my hand on his chest, shaking him gently. “Talk to me, please,” I whimper, but he’s still. “Say something!”
I press my fingers to the side of his wrist, but fail to find a pulse. I press harder out of sheer panic. There’s nothing. “Jay!” I scream a strangled cry and wrap my fingers around his wrist, holding his hand with mine.
“How could you?” I whisper. He can’t leave me. “You can’t leave me,” I barely get out. “I love you. I love all of you and I can help you,” I tell him in a ragged voice through the sobs.
Regret and fear are consuming me. He can’t die.
It’s only when I put my fingers beneath his nose and feel his breath that I’m somewhat calmed. But his pulse is so weak. “Help me!” I scream, knowing no one can hear. The tears fall down my cheeks freely, my eyes already are swollen and stinging from the pain.
I can’t breathe as I hold his head in my lap, the warmth of the blood soaking through my clothes.
My body rocks back and forth. “Stay with me, Jay, please.”
“John, come back to me.”
“I love you both. I promise I’ll make it better. I swear I’ll never leave you again.” As I whisper the promise I faintly hear sirens making their way toward the house. Help is coming. Finally, help is coming for him. I sniffle and hold him closer, lowering my head and whispering next to his ear, “I’m so sorry.” I can’t even voice everything I regret.
The sounds of the sirens coming can be heard in the distance, getting closer now.
“Just please come back to me.”
Chapter 30
John
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Each time the machine sounds, my head throbs with a pain that only brings back memories. I feel my forehead pinch and another shooting pulse, but I can’t move my hand up to my head.
I groan, trying to move but I can’t.
The images flash through my head.
My father holding me down. Beep.
His fist. Beep.
The dogs. Beep.
I go backward in time.
My mother dying. Beep.
I want to stay there. They’re so happy. He holds her, and she holds me. Beep.
She’s on the ground. Beep.
She won’t wake up. Beep.
I scream out for her.
My head shakes and I try to move again, feeling closer to consciousness, becoming more aware of my body, but it’s so heavy.
I shake her shoulders, trying to get her to wake up. Mom! I scream out. Mom!
The sound of my father’s boots. The sound of the toolbox that crashes to the ground as he runs into the room.
My throat feels raw as I cry out again. Beep.
He pushes me out of the way.
No! Mom! Beep.
My shoulders shake as I watch him leaning over her.
Small hands shake me, but they aren’t in the room with me.
Father! Help her! Beep.
His cold gaze finds me, his hands still holding Mom, but when he looks back at me, I can’t cry out anymore. I can’t speak.
His eyes are like ice as he sneers at me. What did I do? Why is he blaming me? I didn’t do anything. I swear I didn’t.