Page 192 of The Tempted

He was out to get me.

I slid down the wall, my body falling to the floor with a thump and pulled my knees to my chest.

I wasn’t crazy. I wasn’t.

“Daddy,” Lacey screamed, her shrill voice pulling me away from my manic state, forcing me into reality. “Come quick,” she sobbed.

I lifted my head and scanned the room for my daughter.

“Lacey?” I called out.

She didn’t answer me.

Tires screeched across the asphalt, a crash sounded and then there was silence.

I stood, walked toward the front door and noticed it was wide open. My steps quickened, my heart raced and then it crashed the moment I stepped outside. My daughter stood frozen at the curb, staring in shock at my two-year old son lying perfectly still in the middle of the street.

I ran down the porch steps, unable to breathe not knowing which child to tend to first. I tripped over the curb, fell to my knees and crawled to my son.

I frantically checked for a pulse.

Nothing.

“No, no, no,” I whispered hysterically, searching around for help. The car sped away, taking off down the street, no regard for my boy. I looked back toward my daughter.

“Lacey, call 911!”

She didn’t move. She was in shock. She just watched her baby brother get hit by a car.

She watched him die.

I closed my eyes and gathered my boy in my arms, rocking him softly. I stared up at the heavens and screamed for help.

Please God, hear me. Hear my cry for help.

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