Page 102 of The Perfect Spiral
“You think I’m scared of that threat, sweetie? Aww, Alex, you should know me better than that by now!” He was on the other side of the counter, slowly circling, brandishing the knife.
He was getting closer. The front door opened, and I heard voices. I gasped as he grabbed me, covering my mouth to stifle my screams. I started to cry. This is it. He’s going to kill me. “Alex, we’re back!” I heard Kyle and a chorus of deep voices. Tears streamed down my face. This is it.
“Alex?” Kyle and Knox called out in unison.
I bit down hard on his hand, tasting the metallic tang of his blood.
“You little—” He plunged the knife into my side.
The pain was excruciating. “Help me!” I cried out, only to be met with another stab. “Ahhhhh!” I screamed, feeling weak.
I tried to cover my wound, but the knife was still lodged in my side. I collapsed to the ground.
The kitchen door burst open, and my father knelt beside me, twisting the knife.
“I’m coming, Alex, hang in there! FUCK!” A body tackled my father, sending him flying across the room.
High-pitched screams and the sound of bones cracking filled the room. I was growing weaker.
“Alex!! Baby! Stay awake! Stay... oh my god! Call an ambulance! Now! ALEX! Stay with me, baby!!” My mom’s voice was pleading. Everything went black.
That was the last thing I heard before I slipped into unconsciousness. I woke up briefly in the ambulance, surrounded by bright lights and the wail of the siren, before losing consciousness again.
I woke up a few days later in the hospital, my family surrounding me, their faces etched with worry.
That night changed everything. It shattered my confidence, my trust. It shattered me. I became more introspective, speaking less and thinking more. I learned that speaking often landed me in trouble, so I kept quiet. I apologized to Kyle and the boys for ruining their prom night, but they assured me they didn't care. Still, I knew they did.
When I woke up, the entire football team came to visit. They brought flowers and my favorite candy. They talked, and I listened. I couldn't speak. My mind was racing, and I couldn't form coherent sentences.
Glancing at the clock, I saw it was 2:44 a.m. It’s amazing how much you can get wrapped up in your own thoughts and how time flies while doing it. I sighed, closing my eyes, trying to will myself to sleep.
The sound of my door opening and closing jolted me awake. The lock clicked shut, and I heard footsteps approaching my bed. Could it be him?
My eyes flew open, and I was about to sit up when familiar arms wrapped around me.
“Baby doll, it’s me,” he murmured, his voice a soothing balm to my startled nerves. I exhaled the breath I’d been holding, my heart rate gradually returning to normal. Turning around, I nestled into his chest, noting the absence of a shirt.
His lips brushed the top of my head, a tender kiss that made me whisper a soft “Thank you” against his warm skin. I tilted my head up, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
In the dim light, I could just make out the faint smile on his lips. “Anytime, baby doll,” he responded, his voice a low rumble against my ear. “I’m always here for you. I’m not going anywhere.”
I nestled deeper into his chest, his arms wrapping around me in a tight, protective hold. His lips found my hair again, pressing another kiss to my head before he rested his chin atop it.
We drifted off to sleep in that comforting embrace. I felt safe. I knew there would be no nightmares tonight. I was under his protection. That night, I slept with the peacefulness of a child, a stark contrast to the restless nights I’d been having. I hadn’t realized how much I needed him to help me sleep.
He knew that when I slept with him, the nightmares stayed away. I was grateful that he’d come in and held me until I fell asleep. I was grateful that he was here, with me, and that he remembered how his presence chased away my nightmares.
Months ago, I never would’ve thought this possible. But things were different now. He was different now.
Chapter 35
After returning to college with Andy and Wes, I made it clear to Knox that we needed to maintain some distance.
Following my emotional unraveling that morning, he was finally starting to grasp why I needed some time to myself before I could mentally brace myself for the public scrutiny. It was early February, and college life was proceeding as usual.
Andy was in Houston, Texas for the Super Bowl, along with Wes and the rest of their families. I was back at school, working on a group project with my friends Tyler and Aaron.
The television was on in the background, broadcasting the Super Bowl. The New York Giants were facing off against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the crowd was massive. Tyler and Aaron pleaded with me to take a break and watch the game. I found myself half working, half watching, typing on my laptop while the sideline reporters chatted away.
