Page 161 of The Secret We Keep
You can’t do this.
You need help.
You can’t live like this.
Voices chant and taunt me. Everything’s black. The air thins. I need it; I need air.
Breathe.
“Morgan?” I hear my name.
I blink, pulling my gaze off the floor.
“Talk to me, Morgan.”
Breathe.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
There’s another voice. Not mine. Not Paddy’s.
It’s over.
What?
“We need to get you help,” Paddy saysshakily.
You need help.
“Why?” My throat croaks. Mind hazy.
I don’t notice Paddy stepping closer. Don’t hear him as I watch his lips move. “Morgan.” His arms are on mine, dragging me to look at him. “I wish there was something I could...”
I feel like I’m underwater. His lips frantically move, but his words are muffled. I want to ask what’s wrong. But no words come out. I blink, trying to make things clearer.
Paddy starts talking again. The only word I catch is, “Home.” He takes my hand and steers me to the bed.
I sit on the edge as he moves around me. Breathing heavy. Packing bags. Making calls. He takes my hand again, pulling my body into his, guiding me through the hotel and outside to his car.
The unfriendly bite in the air has my senses spiking. “We’re leaving?” My blood swims like I’m drunk. Words slurry.
The car door closes. Paddy rushes to his side and gets in. “Yeah, curly fries. I need to get you home.” This time I hear him clearly. “Can you call Holly? Put her on speaker and ask her to meet us at yours?”
I slowly twist my head to look at him. “Okay.” I pull out my phone and press dial before making sure the volume is up loud.
Holly answers just as Paddy pulls out his phone.
“Hey.”
“Hi,” I reply, tone flat, riddled with uncertainty.
“Everything alright?”
I honestly don’t know how to answer. “I’m not sure.”
“What do you mean, you’re not sure?”
I look at Paddy, who’s watching me intensely. “Can you meet me at mine?”
