Page 102 of Forgiving Fate

I don’t want to live anymore.

Raising my arm higher, I take one last glance at the sky above. “See you soon, Mom and Dad.”

With all the strength I have left, I swing my arm as hard as I can, but just as I am about to make contact with my body, I am hit from the side and the glass goes flying.

It takes me a moment to understand what is happening and for my eyes to focus on the person lying on top of me.

“Landon, what the hell?” I scream, pushing him off of me and getting to my feet.

He quickly stands and brushes the dirt and water off his face. “What are you doing Allie?” he asks, his voice sounding strained.

I shake my head and turn to see his truck in the driveway and a group of people standing near it. I squint and see Logan, Grayson, Lainey, and Noah.

Grayson is holding Logan tightly in his arms and I will myself not to care. Turning away from them, I find Landon slowly making his way to me.

I put my hands up, telling him to stop, and he pauses but shakes his head.

The rain picks up and the voices of my parents and Mike filter through my head again.

No. I need this to stop. I need this to end now.

Subtly, I search the ground for the chunk of metal while I keep my eye on Landon, whose eyes are locked on me.

I catch a glimpse of it a few feet from Landon and I.

I can see the moment he catches on and we move at the same time.

Landon catches me around the waist and buries his face in my neck. “Allie, stop. Please.”

Thrashing in his arms, I try to break free. “No! Let me go!”

He shakes his head against my back and he turns me in his arms. My heart stops as I catch a glimpse of his face as tears cascade rapidly down his cheeks.

My heart breaks and I let out a scream that takes all the air out of me and I feel Landon shake against me. Tears cascade down my face and I let the words that have never been more true escape me.

“Please let me go. Let me stop this pain. I can’t do this anymore. I don’t want to. It hurts too much and I c-can’t do it anymore.”

Landon’s body shakes against mine and rests his forehead against mine. “I can’t Bluebird. I know it hurts, but life is betterwith you here, and I refuse to let you suffer the same fate as that monster.”

Trying to break free again, “STORM PLEASE!” I beg.

He shakes his head once more and his grip tightens around my waist.

I thrash, claw, bite, anything to get me away from him, but he won’t let me.

“LOGAN NO!”

“LAINEY STOP!”

Grayson and Noah’s voices echo across the field and Landon and I turn to see Lainey and Logan running full speed at us. I use this moment to go slack, surprising Landon enough I can slip from his grip.

It all happens in a flash. I dive for the glass and get a grip on it and make the first cut on my wrist.

A mix of relief and pain fills every sense of my body.

Using the last ounce of strength, I close my eyes so I don’t see the pain and helplessness on their faces and say, “I’m sorry I wasn’t brave enough to weather the storm. I love you both.”

Raising my arm high, I swing downward towards my neck.

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