“It’s not Charlotte.”
Ice surges through my veins. “Spit it the fuck out.”
“It’s, fuck,” he curses. “It’s Terrence.”
I freeze, trying to understand his words. “What’s Terrence?”
“The other car…” He pauses as my heart pounds like a war drum in my ears. “They don’t think he’s going to live. He’s been life flighted to—”
The phone slips out of my hand, hitting the wood deck with a loud clatter.
Not Terrence.
Not my best friend since kindergarten.
He can’t fucking die.
Charlotte
I wake to voices.
Soft. Familiar. Comforting.
I’m reminded of when I was a little girl, still haunted by the dregs of a nightmare. Back when my parents were happy and in love. They crawled into my bed, hugged me tight, and promised they’d keep the monsters away.
It was a lie.
The monster came anyway.
Yet, as I blink my eyes open and see them both clutching onto my hands, I can’t help but have hope again. Just like when I was six years old.
Mom’s eyes are closed and her face is puffy from crying. Dad’s forehead is lined with worry as he frowns. Neither is looking at me, just holding my hands, lost in their own world. I wish I could pretend everything was a bad nightmare. That Mommy and Daddy will keep me safe. That tomorrow I’ll wake up and we’ll go get ice cream with Hollis and Penny.
I’m not a child, though.
I’ll be a legal adult in a couple of weeks. I’m a young woman who somehow fell into the clutches of a monster and couldn’t figure out how to escape. These nightmares are my reality.
It would be easier to just close my eyes and pretend to sleep. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to face the terrible facts.
I let Ryan ruin my life.
He hurt me in more ways than I could ever explain. He shredded my heart and my dignity. He tore me down until I was reduced to nothing.
I can’t even remember where it all began. A date. One simple date. He was confident and forward and handsome. I liked his possessiveness at first. Made me feel special and cared for. But possessiveness turned into ridiculous jealousy. Jealousy turned into cruelty. Cruelty turned into hate.
“She needs help,” Mom says, her words a swift jab at my heart.
“I’m working on it.” Dad’s voice that normally never wavers, shakes enough to hear. “I didn’t realize the magnitude…”
“He’s a rotten sonofabitch.” Hearing Mom curse with such vehemence would normally be something to send her three children into a fit of giggles. I’m not laughing, though. Ryan is rotten and I understand her hate toward him.
“Yeah,” Dad agrees. “And Michael’s not much better.”
Michael Cunningham is probably worse than Ryan. Just hides it better.
“I don’t care that Michael’s a cop,” Mom bites out. “I want it known that she is not to see Ryan ever again.”
Dad lets out a heavy sigh. “After the accident, I don’t think we’ll have to worry. It looks bad on them.”
“Fuck them!” Mom hisses. “She may have been the one driving, but make no bones about it, Ryan did this to her. The drugs. The depression. The bruises.” Her voice cracks as she adds, “The baby.”
A sob chokes my throat as fresh tears leak from my eyes. I stifle a sniffle, not wanting it known that I’m awake.
“It’s probably for the best,” Dad says, his words barely a whisper. “Not that she’ll see it that way.”
My fears are confirmed.
This time, the sob escapes.
“Oh, honey,” Mom croons. “It’s okay. You’re here. You’re safe. We’ve got you.”
I flutter my eyes open to look at my mother, needing her to make everything all better. Dad squeezes my hand and kisses the back of it. Their eyes hurt too much to look at.
Ryan didn’t just ruin me.
He ruined them too.
“I’m sorry,” I croak out. “I’m s-so sorry.”
“Hush now,” Mom says. “Enough of that. We’ll worry about all that stuff later. Right now, we’re worried about you getting better.”
“What about Terrence?” I ask, bracing myself for the words.
He’s dead.
I killed him.
“He’s critical. That’s all we know,” Dad grunts out, always giving it to me straight. “You’re in a heap of trouble, sweetheart, but we’re going to help you out of it.”
I hate that I’ve disappointed my daddy.
Every girl’s worst fear.
“I’ve held them off as long as I can since you were injured, but the moment you’re discharged, honey, they’re going to arrest you.”
Dad’s words are a punch to the gut, but I know I deserve whatever punishment I have coming to me.
“Don’t worry,” Dad assures me, “the longest they can keep you is forty-eight hours since this is your first offence. I’ll have you out as soon as possible.”
“I don’t want to be like this anymore,” I whisper. “I ruin everything around me.”
“You don’t ruin anything,” Mom confirms. “You’re our sweet princess who lost her way. Daddy and I are going to get you back on the right path.”
I want to believe them.
It feels too good to be true.
“I’ve already called Samantha. She’ll deal with the legal trouble you’re in, but we’ll need to do our part to show you’re willing to get better,” Dad says, affixing me with a stern stare. “The drugs…school…”
Another tear races down my cheek.
I ruined my senior year by letting Ryan ruin me.
While my friends will graduate this month, I will not.
I’m a failure.
“I’ve found a rehabilitation facility that provides extensive therapy for those dealing with loss and abuse,” he says, pinning me with a pitying look. “It’s a good start, Charlotte, and one I think I can present to the judge when the time comes in an effort to lessen your sentence.”
I’m already nodding. I want to resume my normal life. Atone for my sins. Make amends to those I’ve hurt.
“I will go, Daddy,” I whisper, my bottom lip trembling. “I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing,” he murmurs. “Just promise me you’ll come back to us. That you’ll stay away from that family. We can’t lose you.”
Mom kisses my forehead that’s tender with bruises from the accident. “You’re not
