Opening up my phone, I text Bianca, feeling like this could be my last opportunity. I use voice to text, so it doesn’t slow me down.
Me:I’m sorry I’ve been such a shitty friend. I am about to do something dangerous and probably stupid. I hope you’re happy, and that Raven is treating you right. I miss you.
I wipe the tear from my cheek, forcing myself to be strong for them, because this is for every one of those little girls. I’m ending the cycle of abuse. And if I die, it’s a worthy fucking cause.
I’m both shocked, and startled, when the voice I hear behind me is Killian’s.
“Back home, Killer. Whatever you think you’re doing, you’re not.”
I keep walking as Knox pleads, “Tesoro, please.”
My chest squeezes tight when I hear Carter’s voice, broken and terrified.
“Please, Little Heathen. Don’t do this to me.”
Proceeding ahead of me, I continuously dart my eyes from the left to the right, staying aware of my surroundings.
“There she is!” I hear an unknown voice yell, but I can’t see him. I pull the gun from the back of my pants.
“Heather Mancini, drop your weapon. We have a warrant for your arrest. Time to go back where you belong.”
I gasp as I realize what he means.
Wellard Asylum.
I turn briefly to Knox and Carter.
“I’m sorry.”
Sorry is such a stupid word, because it doesn’t make up for anything. It won’t erase the look of horror from their faces. It changes nothing.
Everything happens in flashes. Thunder roars loudly, as lightning hits a nearby tree. The onset of rain is sudden, as is the crushing pain in my chest that knocks me to the ground. The echo of the bullet doesn’t register until I’m lying flat on my back, with Carter on one side of me, and Knox on the other. Carter presses his hand to my chest, pushing down, and I know he’s trying to save my life. My shirt feels wet against my skin. I’m not sure if it’s from the blood loss, or the rain pelting down onto my face, each drop a sharp reminder of how badly I fucked up.
“Away,” I gasp.
Neither responds, so I fight to speak in a complete sentence. Taking a shaky, strained breath, I speak low, “Go. I d-don’t want you to g-get hurt.”
“I don’t care. They can kill me. I don’t want to live without you,” Carter says, his voice sounding as pained as my chest feels.
“If I survive, I’m going away.”
I glance at Knox and see tears running down his face.
I gulp for air as their cries become sobs. Knox places his hand on the side of my face, and peace washes over me. I’m going to live for them.
I shut my eyes and Carter says, “I’d rather die than live without you.”
Trying to smile, but failing miserably, I say, “If a love is worth…”
I attempt to take in a breath, “...dying for, is it not also worth living for?” My chest tightens, as I try to finish my sentence. “This is the beginning of the most beautiful love story ever told...”
After three shallow breaths, I finish, “...because it’s ours.”
My eyes shoot open when I hear someone approaching. The sound of boots against the wet leaves gets louder as the officer comes into view.
“Thank you for the tip on her whereabouts, Killian. We appreciate it.”
The expressions of anguish on Carter and Knox’s faces are the last thing I see, as the crushing pain evaporates. The sun is shining as I move through the field of roses. Inhaling a deep breath, I smile, as serenity washes over me.
