When I was finally able to relax, my mother had come into my room without knocking and sat on my bed. She looked at me, took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from her pocket, and lit one. I watched the smoke twirl and then fade into the air before she spoke.339Please respect copyright.PENANAvrmgk2SgMt
339Please respect copyright.PENANAmFuEbJxZFT
“I just got off the phone with Dr. Monroe. He didn’t tell me much; just that he couldn’t see you anymore. What happened?”339Please respect copyright.PENANASlq8P1DtVH
339Please respect copyright.PENANA6rKOxZzk1Z
To the untrained ears, her question sounded normal. But I knew what she was asking. Things were never anyone else’s fault, always mine. She would tell me my dad drank because I was such an awful child, but I didn’t believe that. He drank because he turned into an asshole and wanted to hurt his family.339Please respect copyright.PENANAIpZMlV6xKa
339Please respect copyright.PENANAzGv2yE3XV1
Sliding off the bed, I went to the window and stared out into the night. Somewhere, a car horn blared and tires screeched. I wondered if the person had gotten into a car accident. That one thought took me away from what was happening now, and it was enough.339Please respect copyright.PENANAUafDNvqwix
339Please respect copyright.PENANAhYbobQtDdX
“Kendall?”339Please respect copyright.PENANAeUPTPwnWuc
339Please respect copyright.PENANAuYS1UE9jso
Her voice had called me back, away from the darkness, and I turned around to face my mother. She looked tired, almost like her being near me was physically exhausting.339Please respect copyright.PENANAOn5gtwHL2r
339Please respect copyright.PENANAzowe4JUeah
“What?” I asked, pushing my hair away from my eyes. “It’s none of your business what happened.”339Please respect copyright.PENANA6jEMV96mqA
339Please respect copyright.PENANA77KkDmYn3y
“I’m going to pay for another doctor to tell you there’s nothing wrong with you, so I have a right to know what happened with this one.”339Please respect copyright.PENANA32WqJeQGHv
339Please respect copyright.PENANA0kfVrVJ3HR
I couldn’t tell her. There was no way she would believe me. I bit down on my cheek and said, “I don’t want to talk about this now. I’m tired. Can you please get out?”339Please respect copyright.PENANAeb1I3uwMww
339Please respect copyright.PENANAggr64ibBI9
Surprisingly, she listened. After the door shut, I collapsed onto my bed and shut my eyes. I wished I hadn’t fallen asleep.339Please respect copyright.PENANAk6iujyTG94
339Please respect copyright.PENANAutx2WSIins
Something about this was familiar, but I couldn’t place it. I stood with my hand on the doorknob, ready to turn it. When I did and it opened easily, there was no one in it, just a desk, papers covering it, and a lamp.339Please respect copyright.PENANAGNcLXQf7j4
339Please respect copyright.PENANAquWfQUcjKD
He wasn’t here.339Please respect copyright.PENANAnurYjNhJNB
339Please respect copyright.PENANAEwCUS600C1
Backing out of the room, I wheeled around to face him. He was standing against the wall, his eyes frightened. He went to ask me what I was doing here, why I was doing this, why—339Please respect copyright.PENANAHKziHNoDvg
339Please respect copyright.PENANADyT73Cfiij
It didn’t matter anymore as I pulled out the gun and shot two rounds into his chest. I watched his body slam back, blood spluttering from his wounds. He was dead before I stepped over him and out into the night.339Please respect copyright.PENANAIhYZWv9XA4
339Please respect copyright.PENANAjPIv3QxUh6
My eyes snapped open to meet the darkness and I sat up. For a moment, I had no idea where I was, but then it all came flooding back. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and dialed the only number I could think of.339Please respect copyright.PENANAIf0uvWQKcG
339Please respect copyright.PENANAwFLaNrM4A8
Two rings and he answered, despite the time.339Please respect copyright.PENANAc9wogD8LDl
339Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZvBL1a0KB
“Kendall?” His voice was groggy.339Please respect copyright.PENANAFCvRjibhcS
339Please respect copyright.PENANA1ksWGMgVDM
“Please,” I whispered into the receiver, my breathing heavy. “Please help me, Christian.” 339Please respect copyright.PENANA5BMAhvGvwN