Page 100 of Something So Strong

“Fine,” he huffs in faux displeasure. “But have you decided what you want, or am I gonna have to just wing it?”

“You’re gonna deliver me food?” I blink down at him with puppy dog eyes.

Kai’s hand presses flat against my face as he pushes me off him. “I’m going before I change my mind.”

Chuckling, I slump onto my side and fetch my phone. “Wait,” I call out.

Kai’s head pops around from the corner of the bathroom. “Yep?”

“Raincheck on dinner too. Romeo needs me.” I hold up my phone screen to him as I scoot off the bed.

“And I don’t?”

“He needs me to save him from himself.”

“Again? What can’t he decide on his own this time?”

After pulling on a hoodie I grabbed off the floor, I run my hand through Kai’s washed-out indigo hair and support the back of his head. “His and my relationship has been fourteen years in the making. And I really should be spending more time with him.”

“Fine,” Kai smiles, but I can tell it’s a heavy one. “Take your time… I like how loyal the three of you are to each other.”

Guiding him towards me, I meet Kai halfway with a kiss. “That’s because we’re family.”

Peace. Calm. Weightlessness.

Freedom—like a warm fuzzy blanket is wrapped around me and nothing and no one can ever hurt me again.

Nothingness surrounds me. No noise, no distractions, just light. Serene and never ending.

This is my place.

This is where I belong.

Just me, and… Who am I?

I bring my hand in front of my face and see creamy white, unblemished skin. Looking down, I run my fingers down my chest. I can feel it with my hand, but my body doesn’t recognize any sensation in return.

I slap my face, but only feel the sting against my palm.

I try to run my fingers through my hair but can’t feel it, so I dig in and scrape my nails across my scalp until I sense wetness.

My fingers are red. Blood and hair are wedged beneath the nails and something is dripping in my eye, but I have no compulsion to blink or wipe it away.

What is this place?

I run, but go nowhere.

I lookup, to the side, behind me.

There are drops of blood trailing. Floating in the air.

Again I claw at my head—ripping at it with both hands until they are coated. I flick them to see how far the blood flies, but despite my ferocity, it hangs in the air just beyond my fingers.

My vision is red now, so I tilt my head forward to watch more of myself float off into the ether that surrounds me.

“Hello?!” I scream, but hear no sound. Just the gravelly scratch of my vocal cords.

I try again with so much effort, my eyes lose focus.

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