Page 77 of The Only Time

I shouldn’t be talking back like this to him. If he has the capability to break into my house then I know it’s dangerous to make him mad. I knew my attitude was going to get me in trouble one day.

“I know but,” he takes a step towards me.

I take a step back and put my hand up. He stops in his place. I’m on the edge of the top step. I sneak a glance down the stairs wondering if I should just make a run for it now.

“You never listened. You blocked my number,” he continues. “What was I supposed to do?”

I look back up at him. “You accept that it’s over and move on.”

“I can’t. Not without understanding what happened. I just wanted to talk it out. I knew that if I got you to listen to my side, you’d change your mind about us. We’re perfect for each other.”

Tears fill my eyes as I listen to this. How am I going to get out of this?

At the end of the day, even if I hear him out, will he give up after I tell him it’s still over?

“I can’t do this with you,” I say as tears roll down my cheeks. “This is not okay, and it has to stop. You can’t stalk me, and you can’t break into my house. That’s against the law. You should be arrested for the fear you’ve caused in my life.”

“Fear?” he asks as his head falls to the side.

It’s like he can’t even comprehend why I would be afraid of him. It scares me even more that he doesn’t see how his behavior in the last several months has been crazy and obsessive.

“Look, I need you to leave. I’m going to go downstairs and grab my phone. If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police.”

I lift my shaky leg and place my foot on the first step below me, not sure if it’s safe to turn my back to him.

He starts towards me as he sees me trying to walk away. “Wait, Mia, no.”

I’m in the middle of moving my other foot to the step below when I see him come after me. I try to move my other foot quickly to take another step, but my brain isn’t moving fast enough to catch up with my body.

My foot misses the step entirely and I feel the weight of my body start to fall backwards. I reach for the railing but can’t get a grip on it. I feel my back hit the stairs first in a crash that sends pain throughout my body.

Then my body rolls and tumbles down the stairs as I feel my head knock against a hard surface. Then everything goes black.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Mia

What is that beeping noise? It keeps pulling me from my sleep, and I just want it to go away. My head is killing me. The throbbing feels like I was hit with a baseball bat.

What happened to me?

Did I drink too much last night? I don’t remember going out. Alcohol has given me headaches before, but this feels different.

I hear whispering voices around me. I muster the strength to open my eyes, and the light makes my head pound even harder. I look around the room as I spot my brothers and my parents talking in the corner.

Where are we?

I glance down at myself. I’m in a hospital bed with an IV and tubes all around me.

My mother looks my way, and I hear a gasp. “Mia, baby. You’re awake,” she whispers as she comes to my side. “How are you feeling?”

My voice cracks as I try to speak. “My head hurts.”

Her soft, comforting hand strokes my forehead. “That makes sense. You hit your head pretty hard. I’ll call the nurse in and see if we can get you some more medicine to make you comfortable.”

Ma almost runs out of the room to go find a nurse.

Pa comes up and kisses my cheek. “You scared us, sweetheart.”

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