Page 7 of Chasing Sarah

What the hell is this girl thinking?!

I slow my breathing once I’m close enough to stop her. She drops her hand to her side and lifts her chin toward the sky.

“What are you doing?” I say, causing her to quickly spin around and face me.

My eyes quickly shift between her, the knife, and the bridge’s edge.

I take a small step closer, and she tenses.

“You’re not going to jump, are you?” I ask, cautiously.

She raises her hands to halt my steps. “Don’t come closer. What do you want?”

Straightening my spine, I angle my head slightly and narrow my eyes.

“I asked you first. What are you doing?”

Instead of answering, she dismisses me and spins back toward the ravine.

Before I can stop her, she brings the knife’s edge to her arm and begins slicing upward.

I launch myself at her and grip onto the hood of her sweater. She falls hard to the ground when I jerk her backward.

“What the fuck?!” She screams and she scrambles to stand.

I scowl at her and plant my hands on my hips.

“Fuck off.” She growls and tries to move passed me.

She stumbles when I push her backward and away from the bridge.

My eyes shift toward the wound on her arm before I return my gaze to hers.

“Whatever you have going on,thatisn’t going to fix it,” I scold, glancing pointedly at her bleeding arm.

Her nostrils flare as anger morphs over her small features. Without another word, she spins on her heels and begins walking away from me.

Okay, Sarah, you did your good deed. She’s leaving. Now it’s time for you to leave too.

Before I realize what is happening, I open my mouth.

“I can get you out.”

Her strides stop and she peers at me from over her shoulder. Her eyes narrow sightly.

“What do you mean?”

I swallow tightly.

No going back now.

“Whatever you’re going through, whatever situation you’re in, I can get you out. I’m heading to New York today. Come with me.”

We just need to find a ride.

She spins to face me fully. “Why would you offer me that?” she asks guardedly.

I can’t help but feel the tightness of my throat grow as memories of my brothers’ deaths flash through my mind.

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