Page 114 of The Moment Promised

I take in amber eyes that hold a world of worry and pain. “Thank god,” he whispers in relief.

“Puffin—” My mom gently nudges Finn aside, peering over my destroyed body. “I’msosorry.” Her voice breaks up, like it’s impossible to get the words out when everything inside her dies.

I’m right there with her.

I lay still on the cold kitchen floor, while the world around me continues.

The smell of burnt bacon fills the air. The clock ticks quietly, reminding me time still moves relentlessly…even though I want it to stop.

I close my eyes, picturing what it would’ve been like if Evia had given Charlie a chance. Would she have died? He would’ve driven her to the hospital, everything would’ve been different.

I would never know how it felt to watch my dad abuse my mom. I wouldn’t have had to learn ways to comfort myself while his voice rocked the walls. My whole life would’ve been different. Better.

What was she like? Would she have been a good mom? Would she have hugged me every chance she got and spoiled me with love? Would Charlie have taught me what it’s like to truly be loved so I could learn long before Finn would teach me?

Would I have even met Finn?

And Chloe.

Our lives would’ve been so different if we had grown up as sisters. She wouldn’t have felt so alone in the world. I would’ve been the best big sister.

I can’t recall the rest of that day…or the week that followed.

All I remember is time moving painfully slow.

Instead, I just felt every stab, every punch, every gut-wrenching pain known to mankind. I felt it with every beat of my heart.

I wished it would just end, the pain, the pity from Finn and my mom.

And now I feel nothing.

Still, as I let Finn rub my feet and feed me ice-cream in my bed, I don’t feel a single sentiment toward him. Toward anything.

I feel nothing.

I had so many questions, but the most prevalent waswhy Jason?I guess I always asked myself that, but at least before I could make the excuse that he was my dad, and that’s why my mother never left him.

If my mom could choose any man to father me, why would she choose Jason?

It was horrible timing,she had said.We had broken up nine months before you were born. When he showed up at my doorstep and saw me holding a baby with auburn hair like mine, he assumed you were our child, and I never corrected him. I was vulnerable and broken and I let him back in. It was the gravest mistake I’ve ever made, one that we’ve both had tolive with. One I’ll spend a lifetime trying to make up to you. I am so incredibly sorry.

My phone rings, filling the silence of my bedroom.

Finn hands it to me and I stare at the screen feeling a tug at my heart.

The contact photo I have for Chloe is of us squeezing each other tightly at our bonfire while Finn captured the candid moment.

The photo alone sets off an emotion I can’t place, I answer her call and put the phone to my ear.

“Girl you better have a good excuse,” she says, her voice cheerful, not hurt.

My lips upturn into an effortless smile, but my heart hurts and my vision turns blurry with tears. “What?” I ask softly.

“I haven’t heard from you in ages! What the hell happened to your psycho dad? Did you kick him in the balls yet or what?”

I haven’t spoken to her since we left Authensville, it’s just been too crazy, I haven’t had a chance to breathe.

I catch her up on everything that happened, leaving out the most important part—you’re my sister…Jason isn’t even my dad because Charlie is. Evia is my real mom.

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