Page 131 of The Breaking Pointe
the floor in the bathroom.” He sighs. “Can’t say he didn’t try to stop himself, I guess,” he says, looking at him.
I glance at the pills, then sit up on my knees in the bed. “Cole, are you still awake?” I softly prod.
“Hm…”hehums.
“I need you to take something for me,” I say.
He weakly rolls over to face me, waiting for me to give him what I have. I hand him the pills and he shoots them back, not even giving me the chance to offer him water. I then take the Nyquil from Trey and hold out the baby cup filled with purple liquid, and he shoots that back, too before quickly rolling back over, returning to his pseudo turtle shell.
IlookatTrey,andwhisper,“Thankyou.”
He says, “Anything for you guys,” and crosses his arms. “I wish I could stay, but I have to get to work. Call me if you need anything, and let me know how he’s going, yeah?”
Igiveanodandstandup.“I’llwalkyouout.”
We both leave Cole to lie there and head out toward thefront door.
“He should be fine. I think he might have gotten it all out now,”Treysays,returningtohisnormalvoicenowthat
we’re alone.
“Do you think he’ll be mad at us?” I ask. Treyhalfsmiles,shakinghishead.“No.”
Iinhalethroughmynose,smilingback.“Okay.”
He smiles a little more and reaches his arms around me, hugging me. “Thank you. For taking care of him.”
I close my eyes, sinking into the hug and embracing him back. “I love him.”
Trey pulls away,looking down at me.“I know.”He chuckles again, letting me go and turning for the door.
Icrossmyarms,watchinghimleavingmebehind.
I bite my lip softly, then look at the colorful glass on the floor before walking to the kitchen to grab the broom.
It’s very strange to me, how we can simultaneously be worried about both the present and the future. Neither the future or the present can be stopped.But, you can find a way to rectify the meaning of the present, in a way that doesn’t diminish you.We know how much the present can affect the future. It’s scary. Unpredictable. Time will pass—months or possibly years, and you will have surpassed that difficult moment in time that you once referred to as the future. The cycle continues, and we don’t even realize it.It’s a shame that we all beat ourselves up to an extent that is completely unheard of, all because we lack control of what’s next in this life.
We all do it.But I wish I knew why we did it.We’re just people. We’re only human.
He’s only human.
33
please don’t leave me
COLTON
If it weren’t for the stinging in my hands and the aching in my arms, I’d be able to stay asleep. The bed is warm, and so is the small frame against me. I don’t want to open my eyes and look at the disaster that I left all over the house. I don’t want to feel guilty about how I ruined everything because Trey is right.
I lack self-control.
Opening my eyes, they start to burn as soon as the air touches them, making me close them and try again, seconds later. Noelle’s hair is the first thing I can see, trailing across the pillow behind her as she holds onto me underneath the covers. I lift a hand to the long strands, forced to look at the cuts and bruises that are now cleaned off and lathered with some sort of ointment to heal the busted mess.
I close my eyes again and return my arms to her body, clinging onto her, tensing up to try to refrain from my tears
pouring out.Unable to hold on, I cough softly—and that transforms into weeping, right into her head.The more breaths I take, the heavier the tears feel like they’re running out of my eyelids.Cradling her head, I bury her more into me, praying she doesn’t hear.
A couple of small fingers begin to trace my back, and a voice speaks into my chest. “It’s okay…I’m here.”
