Page 390 of Eternal
The chains creaked as we moved under the stars. She looked out over the city, then tilted her head back to the sky.
“I can see it too, now,” she said.
I glanced at her. “See what?”
She turned her face toward mine. “A future.”
I held her gaze. “Am I allowed to be in it?”
She smiled softly. “If you keep being a good boy.”
I leaned closer, lips near her jaw. “I’ll be the best boy.”
She laughed, quiet and real, and we kept swinging. And she kept laughing every time she’d go up, closing her eyes like her whole life wasn’t worth the pain as long as she was here.
107
AZRA
“Lifeforms” by Daughter
Past
It started with feeling sick all the time. I woke up one morning, stomach twisting again. The nausea wouldn’t stop. My head spun, my chest felt tight, and my period was late. Late like it had never been before. I kept telling myself it was nothing, stress maybe, but deep down, a knot was tightening in my gut.
Days ago, he’d been rough, careless. Finished inside me when I wasn’t ready. I shoved the thought away, but it wouldn’t leave.
What if?
No… It can’t be… It can’t be that.
Why do I want to throw up?
I stole a pregnancy test from the gas station, my hands shaking.
Please don’t do this to me…
I locked the door and sat on the cold toilet seat, waiting.
I’m scared. Really scared. Terrified of what’s going to happen to me.
But then… two lines stared back at me.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. Instead, my hand flew to my mouth, trying to stop the sobs, but my body betrayed me. I vomited, dry heaves shaking my whole frame. My throat felt like it was ripping apart with every gag. Blood mixed with bile kept coming up and splattered on the floor.
I wanted it to stop, but the blood didn’t stop coming.
It doesn’t feel real. Itcan’tbe real.
Maybe the test is wrong. Maybe I did it wrong. I should do another one. Four more. I can’t even feel it, so maybe it’s not real. Maybe it’ll go away, because the only thing inside me that feels real is the pain and the rage. It can’t be that.
It’s my fault. I should’ve screamed louder. I should’ve run.
Maybe I led him on all these years?
But… but I was only trying to survive.
I hate him. I hate myself. I hate this fucking world.
