Page 8 (1/2)

I’ve never been so sad to see a virtual stranger leave before

She walks to the end of the bed and stops “I got Efia to give me your number Is it okay to text?”

“Anytime”

She studies me, and a flicker of a sht I’ll be in touch”

There’s a bond that co the robbery I can’t explain I know our lives will always be connected My desire to know more about her outshines the physical attraction I have no clue what the future holds for s inside ofeven as I watch her leave and the nurse hands me a Dixie cup with thite pills I take the pills, wash theainst the pillows as a wave of exhaustion hits Eager to escape all the questions I don’t have an answer to, I embrace the oblivion of sleep

Chapter Two

Quinn

“We don’t have anything else to give,” Ollie says coolly My throat is as dry as a desert, andheart

“But you do” He’s evil incarnate with thick, bushy eyebrows that accentuate his dark, malice-filled eyes His thin, chapped, pale pink lips sit below a hawk shaped nose, and his narrow chin has a spattering of dark hair He raises his gun and pulls the trigger Oliver hits the ground I peer down and find a circle in the center of his forehead and unseeing eyes A scream tears its way from my throat I jerk into consciousness

My breath is cohtgown sticks toas I peer around the dia hand over h h I roll onto ital nuusted, I roll onto one on with their lives,to liain a sense of security

Getting new locks, cards, and identification did nothing to start replacing what they’d stolen frolance at myThey hadfrom my bed, I crawl on hands and knees to peer out of my blinds The street is swathed in darkness broken by street lights The cars are faainst the cool wall What if they’re there and I can’t see theoes wild in h air

I lean against the wall and closethe storm inside of round, fighting tears Every noiseover my shoulder, and I don’t trust people the way I once did I knew the world wasn’t all sunshine, rainbows, and lollipops But staring evil in the face shook me to the core

If Ollie hadn’t stood up for me, they would’ve taken me and raped

, I sn the bile threatening to shoot up ly sweet rocket set to embarrass andof the roo in on me dissipates

This is the third nightmare in a row I haven’t told anyone about this side effect I can’t stand the way everyone looks atwith their pity filled eyes is a sht cat trying to steal ns of cracking My mouth is dry, and all I want is to feel safe and not alone My mind returns to Ollie