Page 38 of Broken Bonds

We didn’t move for a long time. The pain was mind-numbing, and I struggled to stifle my moans by biting down hard on my lip, eventually tasting blood. When he eventually released his grip on me to stand up, I almost expected him to start walking without waiting for me. Instead, I was surprised when he stretched his hand out, reaching for me on the wet ground.

My fingers gripped his warm palm, and he hoisted me to my feet, his hand clamping on my hip for a brief moment as I tried to catch my footing, biting my tongue hard enough to taste blood when pain swept through my legs.

“How’s your head?” I asked, trying to distract myself. He reached up to touch the back of his head and winced.

“Could be better, but I’ll live.” He pulled his hand back, inspecting it for what I imagined to be blood, but there was none. Thankfully.

“Are you sure we can’t take a break?” I asked, hopeful for an excuse to sink to the ground again. “I could use one.” Ace shook his head slowly with a small, regretful smile.

“Are you okay to walk now?” He looked at me through wet lashes, droplets of water dripping from his hair into his eyes. I nodded, afraid I would cry with disappointment. I didn’t want him to know just how bad the pain was because then, my worriesbecame real. Like the fact that I might have done irreparable damage to my legs.

He let go of my hand to adjust the straps of the backpack still clinging to his shoulders. His shirt was molded to his chest, and I saw goosebumps covering his exposed skin.

He looked at the road ahead of us before looking at me again and nodding, steely determination glinting in his blue eyes. I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding when he turned away from me and started walking.

My legs shook with each step I took, and I prayed that I hadn’t caused more nerve damage. I winced as the pain shot up my calves and into my thighs. I was taking small steps, trying to balance my weight evenly between both legs. My wet Converse didn’t help. I should have worn better shoes.

I was reminded again of my slow recovery from the accident, the months of physical therapy, the pain and frustration of having to learn to walk again, the embarrassment I felt when I crumpled to the ground after trying to take my first step on my own. I had come so far since then, and I didn’t want to go back to the lowest point in my life.

I tried but I couldn’t keep up with his pace, and I was going slower than before, so Ace checked on me every few minutes to make sure I was still here. Every time my foot touched the ground, I fought the tears pooling in my eyes.

I’m strong. I can do this., I chanted in my head over and over. It was my mantra. The only thing that kept me putting one foot in front of the other.

I bit my lip, hoping to distract myself, but I faltered when Ace came back to where I was struggling and held out his hand again.

“Let me help you.” I shook my head, my voice failing me as tears started to fall. I caught a glimpse of myself in a store window and cringed at the sight. My hair was stuck to my face and dripping, even though the rain had stopped for a bit. Myclothes were stuck to me, and the dark circles under my eyes looked haunting.

“I can do it,” I croaked.

“I’m sure you can,” he said gently, “but you don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here, princess.” He reached for my cold hand again and took it in his own, his warmth spreading from my palm to my fingertips.

His fingers latched onto mine, and he pulled me to him, letting me lean on him for a moment. A flutter of relief shot through my body before the pain returned with a vengeance. “Thank you, Ace.” My voice wobbled like I expected, but he didn’t question me, and for that, I was even more thankful.

“Let me know when you need a break. Let’s try to find the shelter before dark.” He walked slower this time, his hand gripping mine tightly, and I cried silent tears with every step that ached more than the last.

Hours later, we passed by the railway tracks, and then I-95, eventually, making it to Congress Avenue just as the sun was setting. I was afraid we would have to spend another night out in the open. The rain hadn’t stopped over the last hour, and the roads continued to flood with rain and ocean water.

The sky rumbled loudly and lit up with a strike of lightning, then hail began to fall. At first, they felt like tiny pebbles—small enough to sting but not harm—but then, they got bigger.

Ace tugged on my hand, breaking into a jog, but my legs resisted, and I let go of his hand as he bolted through the hail, leaving me behind. He crossed the road and ducked for cover at a public bus stop, leaving me standing at the intersection. He looked back at me and gestured with his hands to hurry up, but the pain had gotten worse, and I couldn’t run. I could hardly walk without limping so badly, I looked like a zombie. The pain from the hail paled in comparison to the burning agony shooting through my legs.

I started to cross the road slowly when lightning slashed through the sky again and thunder rumbled, louder than before, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Ace looked at the sky and then me before dashing from his safety to help me.

He grabbed my hand and tugged again, but I pulled back. “I can’t run, Ace! Just let me walk!”

“We have to hurry. The hail is only going to get bigger, and the lightning is too close!”

“It hurts so much. I’m tired. I can’t keep going!” I shouted, my voice breaking. I felt hopeless. My skin was burning from the hail, and my body was frail from weathering a fucking hurricane.

“I’m not leaving you here. I’m tired, too, princess, but we’re almost there. We have to do it together.” I nodded, gritting my teeth, and pushed my legs to move faster. Tightening my hold on his hand, I stole some of his strength. We passed the public bus stop shelter and walked along the sidewalk, slow at first, looking for the hurricane shelter. Then at last, we finally saw a sign near the school my dad mentioned.

Ace kept pulling my hand, never letting go as we rushed as fast as my legs would carry me toward the door of the shelter, our feet losing traction against the sidewalk with all the water. Hail hit us, and I knew within a few hours, we would be covered in bruises, but Ace still didn’t let go of my hand. We reached a door, only to see huge chains binding it closed.

No. No, no, no. God, please, we’ve come so far.

He groaned with frustration when a big piece of hail hit his head. “Fuck me,” he muttered, holding the spot with his other hand.

Don’t mind if I do… if we survive this.

---