Page 54 of Truth Or Dare
I take a hesitant step forward, the floorboards creaking beneath me. I spot her bed unmade, pillows scattered on the floor, and her record player left open, silent.
“Hey, you here?” I call out.
I hear sniffles, and my eyes widen. “Gabi?” I whisper, my heart clenching in my chest.
I round her bed, spotting Gabi sitting on the floor, her back hunched over. Her shoulders shake with quiet sobs, and my stomach twists with worry.
“Gabi? What’s—”
And that’s when I see it.
The blood.
My eyes widen as I take in the sight of thick, red liquid dripping down her arm. My gaze flicks to the razor blade lying beside her, and my stomach drops like a stone.
“What the fuck?”
I drop to the ground, grasping her face in my hands. Her glassy eyes meet mine, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her lips tremble, red and blotchy, as she shakes her head, repeating the same words over and over.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“What the fuck, Gabi?” My voice cracks as I speak, my eyes blurry with tears. I glance down at her arm, covered in blood, and my heart lurches in my chest, nausea crawling up my throat.
“Chris,” she cries out, tugging at my sweatshirt.
Fuck.
I cradle her face, pulling her close as she cries out, and I join her, tears streaming down my own cheeks. My heart feels like it’s been ripped apart at the sight. What the hell did she fucking do?
I was so worried about some cuts and bruises when she was here, almost...
I blink away the tears, gripping Gabi’s face in my hands, my biggest nightmare coming to life. “Why?” I choke out, my voice breaking. “Why the hell would you do this?” I ask her, feeling my heart lodged in my throat.
“I can’t take it anymore,” she cries out, her voice trembling with pain. “Living in this house withhim, having to live without my mom, hating myself for being someone he despises, the thoughts in my head. They’re so damn loud. I can’t, Chris.I can’t. I need it to stop. I need it all to juststop.”
My lips part on a shaky breath as I look down at her repeating the same words running through my mind. I curse under my breath, pulling her onto my lap, her blood staining my clothes, and I just hold her tight.
She cries out into my chest, and I squeeze my arms around her, just holding her close, trying to drown out her pain with my presence.
I feel so helpless, holding onto my lifeline while she’s drowning, not even wanting to fight anymore.
“Why…” She shakes her head, her sobs breaking my heart as she pulls back to look at me. “Why are you still here, Chris?” she asks, her words coming out choked, trembling. “I’m a fucking mess,” she spits out. “Why do you bother?”
“Because I’m not giving up on you,” I grit out, holding her face firmly in my hands. “You’re worth fighting for, even in your darkest moments.” I brush her hair back, and wipe away her tears. “You’re not alone in this, Gabi. I’m here. I’llalwaysbe here for you.”
Her lips part, shock written all over her face as she cries into my chest. I hold her tighter, lifting her off the ground and gently setting her on her bed.
I glance at her arm, the blood dried on her wrist, and swallow hard, fighting back the anger boiling inside me. I want to storm out there and kick his teeth for making Gabi feel like this. I want to kick myself for hesitating before I came up here. I should’ve been here sooner, before she...
I take a deep breath, grabbing some wipes and slowly clean her up. Each wince she makes feels like a punch to my gut, and my heart fuckingaches.
When she’s clean enough, I swallow hard, my hand trembling as I hover over her wrist. With a shaky breath, I lean down, pressing my lips against the cuts.
Her soft sobs and sniffles make my stomach drop, and I lift myself up, laying her back down against her pillow. I reach for her messy sheets, trying to straighten them out as best I can.
Gabi scoots over, and I focus on cleaning up the blood on the floor, clutching the razor blade tightly in my hand. I can’t believe she...
I swallow down my anger, my jaw clenched tight, and quickly dispose of everything, making sure her dad doesn’t find out. From the corner of my eye, I spot her earphones, and her phone lying on the ground, tossed aside like she threw them across the room. My expression tightens as I bend down to pick them up.
