Page 7 of Through the Flames
I knelt down and dabbed at the floor, mechanically following the path of my own blood and wiping away every faint smear. My movements were robotic, and my mind was numb as I obeyed without thought.
Crouching on the cold marble, I picked at the shards stuck in my foot, wincing with each one I pulled out. Each tiny piece pulled out felt like fire, but I worked quickly, desperate to finish.
Dad stalked toward me, tossing a crumpled bandage at my feet, along with a pair of socks. “Wrap that shit. I want it covered — now.”
With trembling fingers, I wrapped my sliced-up skin with the bandage, sliding the socks over it as best I could.
When the blue and red lights flashed outside the windows, he grabbed me.
His fingers dug into my cheeks as he sneered. They felt like burning hot pokers, searing my skin. I wanted them off me.
“I’m only going to say this once. What happened here today was an accident. Don’t make any mistakes, boy. I can make your life a living hell.”
You already have.That’s what I wanted to say, but no words came out.
He tapped my cheek, the physical contact sent waves of nausea through me.
“You wouldn’t want to go the same way as your dear mother, now, would you? Now stop bawling like a little baby.”
Was I crying?
He released my face but looked at me for another moment. “Or don’t. Might sell our story.”
Ourstory?
I couldn’t move.
From a distance, I heard him tell the police and paramedics a fabricated tale. Heard him crying, “My wife! Oh God, my wife! Please, no!”
Lies.
They tried to question me. Dad shot me a sharp look.
I couldn’t move.
No words came out.
Then they were gone.
Somehow, I made it back to my room.
The weight of the silence crushed me.
Numbness spread like ice through my body. I felt nothing, heard nothing, and saw nothing.
And I stopped feeling.
Just … stopped.
Like a door was closing deep inside of me, like I was a statue in a cold room, nothing but a shell.
I stared at the ceiling again, but nothing was the same anymore. After all the chaos, an unnatural quiet had settled over the house.
My chest hurt, and all I wanted was to sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I relived it all over again.
The light leaving her.
